Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Foreign Direct Investment And Uncertainty: Implications For Ethiopia, Adugna Lemi, Sisay Asefa

Adugna Lemi

The paper examines the effect of price and exchange rate uncertainty and political instability on the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to selected African economies. Measures of uncertainty of inflation rate and real exchange rate are incorporated by taking the conditional variance of the residual of the Autoregressive (AR) processes of each series. Pooled data result without accounting for country specific factors is misleading. Fixed effects model provides a better explanation of the variation of FDI flow to African economies. The results show that uncertainty in the rate of inflation and political instability constrain the flow of FDI only …

Do Foreign Direct Investment And Foreign Aid Promote Good Governance In Africa?, Adugna Lemi, Blen Solomon, Sisay Asefa

Adugna Lemi

The literature on the roles that governance/political and economic stability play to attract capital flows into African economies has been burgeoning. Good governance, liberalization, infrastructure, incentive packages have been regarded as cures to break the deadlock to reverse the economic plight, to attract inflow of capital and, in some cases, to reverse outflows of African economies. The flow of capital, however, has undesirable side effects on host economies’ working conditions, environmental standard, inequality, and culture, among others. These economic and social external or negative spillover effects are due to the phenomenon of “race-to-the-bottom” where companies invest in economies with lax …

Anatomy Of Dissent In Islamic Societies, Ahmed Souaiaia

Ahmed E SOUAIAIA

The 'Arab Spring' that began in 2011 has placed a spotlight on the transfer of political power in Islamic societies, reviving old questions about the place of political dissent and rebellion in Islamic civilization and raising new ones about the place of religion in modern Islamic societies.

In Anatomy of Dissent in Islamic Societies, Ahmed E. Souaiaia examines the complex historical evolution of Islamic civilization in an effort to trace the roots of the paradigms and principles of Islamic political and legal theories. This study is one of the first attempts at providing a fuller picture of the place of …

Remarks By Winston Langley, Provost And Vice Chancellor For Academic Affairs At Umass Boston, Winston Langley

Winston E. Langley

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UMass Boston, Winston Langley, discusses Rita Arditti, human rights, and the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo.

Turkish Foreign Policy Under Regional Transformations, Murat Yesiltas, İsmail Numan Telci

Murat Yesiltas

Turkish foreign policy in the Middle East has been facing a number of new obstacles as a direct or indirect result of the Arab spring. This is not the first time that Turkey’s regional policies are challenged by factors that are not originating from Ankara. As it was the case in the past challenges as well, Turkish foreign policy architects have been introducing fresh policy tools that would limit the negative effects of the Arab spring to Ankara’s regional aspirations. In light of the recent developments in the region, this report is an attempt to analyze how Turkish foreign policy …

Burma: A Land Of Contrasts, David Butgereit

David M. Butgereit, M.S.N.

No abstract provided.

Between Evangelism And Multiculturalism: The Dynamics Of Protestant Christianity In Indonesia, Chang Yau Hoon

Dr Chang Yau HOON

No abstract provided.

Interview -- About The Third Plenum And China’S Efforts At Reform, Zheng Wang

Zheng Wang

No abstract provided.

Living Among Guatemalan Mayans Is Fascinating Experience, Irene Scharf

Irene Scharf

I have just lived a dream. Five years ago I learned of a school where students of all ages could study Spanish intensively while living among the Guatemalan Mayans. Peace Accords had been signed in 1996, the government was encouraging tourism, and it was, finally, safe to visit.

Why a dream? Because, 25 years ago, when I traveled through Central and South America, I promised my family I would avoid Guatemala because of the perceived was dangers. During that trip, as I met my Europeans and other who had visited, remained safe, and found it a fascinating country, I vowed …

State, Civil Society And Media Interactions In Slovak Transitional Justice, Nadya Nedelsky

Nadya Nedelsky

No abstract provided.

The Narrative Mediterranean: Beyond France And The Maghreb, Claudia Esposito

Claudia Esposito

The Narrative Mediterranean: Beyond France and the Maghreb examines literary texts by writers from the Maghreb and positions them in direct relation to increasingly querulous debates on the shifting identity of the modern Mediterranean. This book argues that reading works by writers such as Albert Camus and Tahar Ben Jelloun alongside authors such as Fawzi Mellah and Mahi Binebine in a transnational rather than binary interpretive framework transcends a colonial and postcolonial bind in which France is the dominant point of reference. While focusing on works in French, this book also examines Maghrebi authors who write in Italian.

The texts …

Economic Prospects For A One-State Solution In Palestine-Israel, Leila Farsakh

Leila Farsakh

No abstract provided.

The Politics Media Equation:Exposing Two Faces Of Old Nexus Through Study Of General Elections,Wikileaks And Radia Tapes, Ratnesh Dwivedi Mr

Ratnesh Dwivedi

The important identity of a responsible media is playing an unbiased role in reporting a matter without giving unnecessary hype to attract the attention of the gullible public with the object of making money and money only.After reporting properly the media can educate the public to form their own opinion in the matters of public interest. Throughout the centuries, the world has never existed without information and communication, hence the inexhaustible essence of mass media. The government has the power to either make or reject whatever that will exist within its environment. It also determines how free the mass media …

From Philosopher To Cultural Icon: Reflections On Hu Mei's "Confucius" (2010), Joseph Lee, Ronald Frank, Renqiu Yu, Bing Xu

Joseph Tse-Hei Lee

No abstract provided.

Ict, Social Media, And The Arab Transition To Democracy: From Venting To Acting, Mohammed M. Aman Dr.

Mohammed M. Aman

There is widespread use of information and communications technology (ICT) in the Middle East and North African countries. Blogging and social media have played an important role in the recent calls for reform and change. Using these new communication systems and devices, citizens have been venting their anger and frustration with their autocratic governments and rulers. Most recently, the venting has turned into action, as shown by the eradication of the old regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen, as well as the ongoing struggle in Syria.

The most notable issues include lack of individual freedoms, deteriorating economic conditions, high …

China’S Foreign Policy Debates, Zheng Wang

Zheng Wang

No abstract provided.

Challenges To Land Restitution In Colombia: A Conversation With Winifred Tate, Winifred L. Tate, Adam Isacson

Winifred L. Tate

(Audio Podcast) The Colombian government's peace and land restitution efforts are meeting stiff resistance from elites in much of the country. Adam Isacson, Senior Associate for Regional Security Policy at WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America) talks to Winifred Tate, professor of anthropology at Colby College, about this dynamic.

薄案判決啟示錄先除後納弔詭, Zheng Wang

Zheng Wang

No abstract provided.

Corruption, Democracy And Asia-Pacific Countries, Neil Campbell, Shrabani Saha

Neil Campbell

This paper argues that the relationship between democracy and corruption is nonmonotonic. When a country shifts from autocratic rule to highly imperfect democracy (an ‘electoral democracy’) it is frequently perceived that the level of corruption increases. Conversely, when the democracy level is already relatively high (approaching ‘mature democracy’) an increase in the level of democracy is typically expected to decrease the level of corruption. To assist with our discussion of these issues, before going on to the empirical part of the paper, we look specifically at the case of South Korea to illustrate how corruption responded to an increasing level …

Chilean Renewable Energy Policy, Kyle Herman

Dr. Kyle S. Herman

The development and implementation of renewable energy power plants is important for Chile in order to increase energy security, supply remote mines with electricity, and eventually decrease energy costs. The Chilean government has promoted renewable energy and attracted Foreign Direct Investment FDI) to develop large-scale renewable energy projects. However, the policies cannot sufficiently attract FDI in unproven renewable energies such as Concentrated Solar Power, though it is proven elsewhere. This paper examines the Chilean government’s renewable energy policies and investigates potential pitfalls of early to mid-stage capital for the renewable energy industry. Recommendations include linking the mining industry to the …

Chinese Sage Kings And The Hobbesian State Of Nature: Bridging Comparative Political Thought And International Relations Theory, Jon D. Carlson

Jon D. Carlson

No abstract provided.

States Of Nature: Consilience, Syncretism, And Challenges For Comparative Political Thought, Jon D. Carlson

Jon D. Carlson

No abstract provided.

Beware Of The Jihadist Component, Ahmed Samatar

Ahmed Samatar

No abstract provided.

Towards Respecting Indigenous Rights In Development Policy: The Case Of A Community-Based Forest Management Project In Panama, Benjamin Goodman

Benjamin Goodman

As Latin American countries reach new heights of development, perched on the shoulders of an increasingly globalized economy, their local indigenous communities continue to be the most marginalized and impoverished people in the world. Sustainable development initiatives present themselves as a way to contribute to global economic development, while at the same time, respecting the livelihoods of rural peoples and preserving natural resources for future generations. However, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources continues to threaten the livelihoods and identities of many rural indigenous communities. As the economic, legal and political marginalization of indigenous peoples persists, the inevitable result of these …

汪錚與先除後納提法, Zheng Wang

Zheng Wang

No abstract provided.

Australian Defence Force Transformation: The Hardened And Networked Army, Stuart Murray

Stuart Murray

Extract:
In the field of international relations there exists controversy over whether or not a Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) is occurring. This case employs the recent transformation of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to validate the 'revolution' argument. As Australia's role in the Asia Pacific security environment grows, there is a correlative need for its military to evolve. The ADF has embraced change, primarily through its Future Warfighting Concept (FWC) and the doctrine of a Hardened and Networked Army (HNA).

Open For Business: Australian Uranium For Sale!, Stuart Murray

Stuart Murray

Extract:
Fossil fuels negatively contribute to global warming and climate change. While the short-term impact of nuclear energy is more positive, it is no less controversial in terms of climate change. According to the Director of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed El Baradei, investing in nuclear energy technologies is particularly attractive to developing countries where energy demand outstrips energy supply and 'energy security, air pollution and greenhouse gases are priorities' (IAEA 2006). Nuclear weapons proliferation, and environmental safety, however, remain as global concerns. As a result, nuclear energy technologies and uranium exports to fuel that technology continue to attract …

Push For Independence: The West Papuan Nation, Stuart Murray

Stuart Murray

Extract:
The Papuan Island has long been subject to distant rule. In the nineteenth century, it drew rapacious attention from resource hungry European colonisers including Germany, Britain, Japan and The Netherlands. In 1975, the eastern half of the island became the independent nation of Papua New Guinea. The fate of the western half remains disputed. The Dutch ruled Western Papua until 1963, eventually ceding their sovereignty to Indonesia. Since then, the territory has been subject to the distant and occasionally tyrannical rule of the Indonesian Government. Scores of West Papuans, however, continue to exert claims for an independent West Papuan …

The Pariah State Of Global Society: North Korea, Stuart Murray

Stuart Murray

Extract:An examination of North Korea's actions since 1994 (the year they signed the Agreed Framework) shows that the 'Hermit Kingdom' has routinely violated the common purposes, organisations and standards of conduct expected of a responsible member of our international society of states.

The Plight Of The Kimberley: Jobs Or Culture?, Stuart Murray

Stuart Murray

No abstract provided.