An exposé of the realpolitik of trade negotiations: implications for population nutrition

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 3083-3091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Friel ◽  
Phillip Baker ◽  
Anne-Marie Thow ◽  
Deborah Gleeson ◽  
Belinda Townsend ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Trade Negotiations ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Political Dimensions

AbstractObjective:To explore the formal and informal ways in which different actors involved in shaping trade agreements pursue their interests and understand the interactions with nutrition, in order to improve coherence between trade and nutrition policy goals.Design:The paper draws on empirical evidence from Australian key informant interviews that explore the underlying political dimensions of trade agreements that act as barriers or facilitators to getting nutrition objectives on trade agendas.Setting:Countries experiencing greater availability and access to diets full of energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods through increased imports, greater foreign direct investment and increasing constraints on national health policy space as a result of trade agreements.Participants:Interviews took place with Australian government officials, industry, public-interest non-government organizations and academics.Results:The analysis reveals the formal and informal mechanisms and structures that different policy actors use both inside and outside trade negotiations to pursue their interests. The analysis also identifies the discourses used by the different actors, as they attempt to influence trade agreements in ways that support or undermine nutrition-related goals.Conclusions:Moving forward requires policy makers, researchers and health advocates to use various strategies including: reframing the role of trade agreements to include health outcomes; reforming the process to allow greater access and voice to health arguments and stakeholders; establishing cross-government partners through accountable committees; and building circles of consensus and coalitions of sympathetic public-interest actors.

The Politics of Energy Security

2019 ◽  
pp. 247-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Jewell ◽  
Elina Brutschin
Keyword(s):  
Energy Security ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Academic Communities ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Productive Research

Energy security has long been a main driver of energy policies, but its meaning has been contested by policy makers and scholars. The concept incorporates both material and intersubjective aspects, finding different expressions in different contexts and attracting the interest of diverse social actors and academic communities. This chapter identifies, compares, and contrasts five major approaches for analyzing energy security rooted in different scholarly traditions. It argues that in order to facilitate a dialogue among these approaches as well as policy comparison and learning, it is useful to conceptualize energy security as “low vulnerability of vital energy systems.” This definition opens avenues for productive research, unpacking the interplay between material and intersubjective aspects of “vulnerability” and “vitality” of energy systems. Future research should investigate the role of material factors alongside power, values, and trust in defining energy security; explain the gap between energy securitization and action; and explore the interaction between energy security and other energy policy goals.

scholarly journals An inclusive and participatory approach to counter-radicalization? Examining the role of Muslim associations in the Swedish policy process

Ethnicities ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 146879682093228
Author(s):  
Markus Holdo
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Communication Networks ◽  
Policy Process ◽  
Participatory Approach ◽  
Policy Area ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Special Responsibilities

Policies on preventing radicalization and recruitment to violent Islamist organizations have been widely criticized for reinforcing negative stereotypes of Muslims as a group. Sweden has stood out by international comparison by announcing an approach built on inclusion and participation, especially with regard to Muslim civil society. But what does it mean to make a policy process inclusive and participatory? How can values of inclusion and participation be combined with efficient implementation and realization of policy goals, especially in a policy area where discourse and practice have tended to reinforce patterns of exclusion and discrimination? This article develops a framework that puts the roles of participants at the center: what expectations, boundaries and capacities come with an invitation to participate? Based on interviews with actors involved in the Swedish policy process, including Muslim civil society leaders, the study suggests that participation, in this case, meant primarily being present, thereby confirming commitment and stakeholder status and contributing legitimacy, and providing instrumental knowledge and communication networks. While Muslim representatives were often not expected to be more involved, some indicated that they themselves hesitated to go beyond these roles for several reasons. They expressed a concern that merely having opinions or critique could be interpreted as ‘radical’ and as not accepting the idea that Muslims as a group should have special responsibilities for preventing radicalism. One way of overcoming such obstacles is through subtle, indirect exercises of influence that allow policy-makers and administrators to anticipate the concerns and interests of affected groups without requiring their direct participation.

scholarly journals Commentary: The land of insurmountable opportunities

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-99
Author(s):  
Robert W. Denniston
Keyword(s):  
Drug Research ◽  
Free Market ◽  
The United States ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
United States Government ◽  
Advocacy Groups ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Alcohol Industry

Denniston, R. (2015). Commentary: The land of insurmountable opportunities. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 4(2), 97-99. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v4i2.207Much is known about how to change alcohol policy to reduce harm, but despite the evidence little action has been taken at thenational level in the United States. Government officials have shown little interest in putting prevention research results to work.The influence of the alcohol industry on policy-makers combined with free market ideology has thwarted change despite theefforts of advocacy groups working to reduce harm. The role of the alcohol industry at the national and international level servesas a powerful deterrent to policy change.

The politics behind social protection in Nepal

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristie Drucza
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Landscape ◽  
Party Manifestos ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Political Dimensions

This article is a qualitative case study on the political dimensions of social protection reforms in post-conflict Nepal. The article examines vertical versus horizontal party structures and the political economy of support for different parties, and how this relates to their social protection policies to help unpack gaps in the literature and provide a deeper understanding of both the constraints and opportunities for reform. Drawing on key informant interviews conducted in Nepal between 2012 and 2014, the article describes the attitudes of members of the main Nepalese political parties towards social protection, and analyses the proposals on social protection within party manifestos. It discusses the role of social protection in democratisation as well as limitations towards constructing a democratic welfare state grounded in the kind of clientelistic and patronage party politics that continue to dominate the political landscape in Nepal today. The article is relevant to those in the ‘thinking and working politically’ aid movement and those working towards social protection reforms in clientelist states.

Assessing the Role of the Justice-of-the-Peace Courts in the Russian Judicial System

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Hendley
Keyword(s):  
Plea Bargaining ◽  
Judicial System ◽  
District Courts ◽  
Criminal Cases ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Civil Cases ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Justice Of The Peace

Justice-of-the-peace courts (JP courts) have been in operation for ten years in Russia. The article assesses the extent to which they have fulfilled the original policy goals of diverting mundane cases away from the raionnye (district) courts and making the legal system more accessible to ordinary citizens. Policy makers have repeatedly tinkered with their jurisdictional parameters in order to find a proper dividing point between the JP courts and the district courts. The caseload data document that the JP courts now handle almost all first-instance administrative cases, as well as about three-quarters of all civil cases. Their role in criminal justice is more constrained. Their success in processing huge numbers of cases is facilitated by the use of “judicial orders” (sudebnye prikazy) in many civil cases, and by the use of a type of plea bargaining (osoboe proizvodstvo) in criminal cases. Each of these procedural mechanisms obviates the need for a full hearing on the merits.

scholarly journals Legal Protection for Foreign Workers in Indonesia: Opportunities and Challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (`11) ◽  
pp. 1983-2002
Author(s):  
Hadry Harahap ◽  
Dr. Harris Oemar
Keyword(s):  
Free Market ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
Investment Capital ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Regulatory Challenges

The impact of globalization and the current free market in the form of movement of investment, capital and labor between countries is unavoidable. Indonesia, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), opens up opportunities for investment and foreign workers to run its business. The purpose of this research is to find out about legal protection for foreign workers in Indonesia as regulated by the 1945 Constitution and various other laws and regulations. This study uses a qualitative approach that is normative juridical, and the specification of the analysis of this research is carried out descriptively. The results show that the provisions regarding foreign workers in Indonesia still have many obstacles, especially in promoting investment, creating new regulatory challenges that may need to be responded to by policy makers in Indonesia quickly, and the right strategy is needed in the field of using foreign workers. although Law No. 11 of 2020 has been passed and optimizes the role of non government organizations (NGOs) as assisting institutions for foreign workers to increase awareness of human rights in Indonesia

scholarly journals Making it Concrete: Analysing the Role of Concrete Plants’ Locations for Circular City Policy Goals

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karel B.J. Van den Berghe ◽  
Teun J. Verhagen
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Critical Material ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Circular Loop ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
The Hague ◽  
City Policy

Increasingly, space for remanufacturing is seen as the most valuable resource to achieve circular economy (CE) policy goals, in particular for cities. However, in many cities, industrial urban areas are increasingly subject of – mostly circular designed - residential redevelopment. The proposition of this paper is that these diminishing industrial areas host, at least potentially, essential functions necessary to “close the material loop.” The reason why policy makers neglect the necessity of remanufacturing capacity, is because it is difficult to pinpoint the “ideal” geography of a circular loop. Most (circular) products can be transported limitless, thus their remanufacturing functions can be located around the world. But what if a critical material cannot be transported limitless and has circular potential? Therefore, this paper focusses on concrete for two reasons. First, concrete is by far the most abundant material in urban areas. Second, newly/circular made fluid concrete can only be transported for a limited time and distance. The hypothesis of this paper is that concrete plants are and will become essential for circular cities. Subsequently, we focus on the Dutch city of The Hague and combine a Material Flow Analysis with the locations of the concrete resupply chain. Our results show that potentially The Hague has a 100% circular concrete chain, but the importance of its concrete plant is (implicitly) neglected. We conclude that The Hague is illustrative for the problem of many circular cities that are without (implicitly) taking into account the whole circular resupply chain, jeopardized today a future urban CE.

The Constructive Role of Private Creditors

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-25
Author(s):  
Arturo C. Porzecanski
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Financial Markets ◽  
International Monetary Fund ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Financial Intermediaries ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Past ◽  
The International Monetary Fund

During the past couple of years, policy-makers in Washington and other capitals of G-7 countries have been flogging the idea that the functioning of the world's financial markets must be improved by making it easier for insolvent governments, especially in emerging markets, to obtain debt relief from their bondholders and bankers.Most savvy investors, financial intermediaries, and emerging-market government officials, however, are at a loss to understand why the G-7 and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) believe the international financial system would function better if there were specific mechanisms to facilitate sovereign bankruptcies.

scholarly journals Looking for stability

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 101-112
Author(s):  
Maria-Angeliki Psyrraki ◽  
Emilie Venables ◽  
Christos Eleftherakos ◽  
Nathalie Severy ◽  
Declan Barry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Refugee Status ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Poor Access ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Survivors Of Torture ◽  
Rehabilitation Clinic ◽  
Depth Interviews

Introduction: On-going conflict and political instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has led to increasing numbers of people fleeing their country for Europe. Many need rehabilitation services upon arrival in Greece after experiencing torture in DRC.  The scarcity of state resources and the limited capacity of non-governmental organisations to assist survivors of torture means many needs remain unmet. This study explored the experiences of rehabilitation for male Congolese survivors of torture living in Athens, as well as the potential role of the wider Congolese community in Athens in supporting rehabilitation.  Methods: This qualitative study included in-depth interviews with survivors of torture attending a rehabilitation clinic and key informant interviews with representatives of the wider Congolese community in Athens. Data was thematically analysed to construct and develop codes and themes. Results: 19 survivors and 10 key informants were interviewed. For many survivors, rehabilitation was an unclear concept. Despite the appreciation for services received at the clinic and the amelioration of physical and psychological symptoms, survivors felt rehabilitation was incomplete as it did not meet their accommodation needs nor provide stability through granting refugee status. Survivors were wary of trusting other Congolese people after experiencing torture and did not always associate themselves with the local Congolese community. The role of local Congolese leaders and organisations was not seen as replacing the clinical element of rehabilitation but aiding in practical issues such as information sharing and integration, especially in partnership with other organisations. Discussion: Systemic shortcomings in Greece, including poor access to accommodation and insecure asylum status, impeded processes of rehabilitation. Many participants found themselves navigating an unstable and unpredictable landscape in their journey towards “feeling whole again.” The role of the wider Congolese community in Athens in supporting rehabilitation remains complex and a lack of trust threatens social cohesion. Nonetheless, the willingness of the community to be more proactive should not be ignored by organisations and policy-makers.  

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