Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Deciphering The Phenomenon Of Elite Corruption In Africa, Segun Oshewolo, Babatunde Durowaiye

Segun Oshewolo

Development challenges transverse the countries of Africa. This explains why the continent has progressed with comparative slowness in the global community. Among these challenges, the phenomenon of elite corruption proves to be one of the most potent. The paper offers a flash of intellectual insight that simultaneously distils the conceptual orientation of the phenomenon of elite corruption and also unravels its various dimensions in the African context. To achieve the latter goal, the paper adopts the theory of rent-seeking. The theory does not only expose the conspiracy to perpetuate poverty by elites, it also reveals the mechanisms for achieving that …

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.

Good Practices In Standard Setting For Domestic Worker Contracts, Piyasiri Wickramasekara

PIYASIRI WICKRAMASEKARA

The presentation discusses international good practices in model or standard employment contracts in protection of migrant domestic workers. International instruments negotiated by ILO and UN constituents are the best sources of good practices. It outlines the provisions in international instruments, particularly the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers, 2011 (No. 189). The author maintains that for maximum effectiveness, the model/standard contracts should be mutually recognized by countries of origin and destination, and duly enforced to ensure compliance by employers, and supplemented by other measures. The author concludes that there is a large unfinished agenda in ensuring decent work for domestic workers.

Discerning For Peace In Africa: The Sudan Civil Wars And Peace Processes 1955-2013, Conrad John Masabo Mr.

Conrad John Masabo Mr.

Separation of the Sudan into the Republic of Sudan (North) and the Republic of Southern Sudan (South) was globally extolled as the long-lasting solution to one of the longest civil wars in post-Colonial Africa. However, recent developments in Sudan: continued clashes between north and south, crises in the contested areas and tribal civil wars have uncovered that: separation without addressing the principal root causes of the conflicts is not the panacea to prone and protracted civil wars. Taking a historical analysis framework, the paper attempts to tackle issues of causes, opportunities and challenges for peace in Sudan.

40 Years In Paradox: Post-Normalisation Sino-Japanese Relations, Yinan He

Yinan He

Post-normalisation Sino-Japanese relations have been fraught with contradictions. In particular, three paradoxes stand out over the past 40 years. First, despite many shared geopolitical and economic interests, China and Japan have never developed genuine strategic cooperation, and since the 2000s have even evinced a trend towards thinly-veiled or open rivalry. Second, time, rather than healing the wounds of past wars, has since the mid-1980s yielded only a more vivid and bitter recollection of history that has bedevilled both official and popular relations. Third, diplomatic and commercial ties as well as “thick” societal contacts developed since normalisation have failed to bridge …

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 …

Multicultural Citizenship Education In Indonesia: The Case Of A Chinese Christian School, Chang Yau Hoon

Chang Yau HOON

No abstract provided.

Book Review: The Arab Spring, Democracy And Security: Domestic And International Ramifications, Efraim Inbar (Ed), Zenonas Tziarras

Zenonas Tziarras

To oer analysis on an on going political event is always a challenging task. Yet, the “Arab Spring” has given rise to many questions about the past, the present and the future of the Arab world and the Middle East more generally. The Arab Spring, Democracy and Security:Domesc and International Ramifications addresses some of these questions. The chapters of this edited volume have been written by selected Israeli scholars focusing on “issues such as democratization, the role of economic factors in political change and explanations for variations in regime stability in the Middle East.” The relationship between internal and external …

Turkey-Egypt: Turkish Model, Political Culture And Regional Power Struggle, Zenonas Tziarras

Zenonas Tziarras

This paper argues that although, during the governance of the Muslim Brotherhood, the promotion of the Turkish model through political and economic support was welcomed in Egypt, it is not compatible with the country and cannot be emulated, while there are also different perceptions about the matter on the elite and mass political culture levels. Moreover, based on the political culture(s) of the county, it is very likely that future governments in Egypt would want to assume a greater regional role. Ultimately this means that the Turkish model would have failed as a means of soft power and hegemony, while …

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.