Obama visit will boost, slightly, US-Africa ties

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
House Of Representatives ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
Presidential Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Congressional Black Caucus ◽  
Black Caucus ◽  
Personal Connections ◽  
The Impact

Significance Obama's personal connections to Kenya have ensured that this trip has received much more attention than usual presidential journeys. However, the impact of these visits has been called into question, as expectations for results are often not met. Impacts The trip is designed in part to mend fences with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which has criticised Obama for continental neglect. Shoring up support in the CBC will help to maintain Democratic party unity in the House of Representatives. Obama's domestic position has been enhanced by his comments on human rights in Kenya, particularly for women. His prestige will help Democrats in 2016 presidential elections.

scholarly journals Latino Representation in the U. S. Congress: How Much and by Whom?

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 115-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Huerta ◽  
Adolfo Santos
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Party ◽  
Political Context ◽  
Party Affiliation ◽  
Congressional Black Caucus ◽  
Black Caucus ◽  
Different Types

Research on measuring support for Latino issues in Congress has found that party affiliation is the primary influence on the level of support. The research also demonstrates that under certain scenarios, Latino representatives do provide more substantive Latino representation than do non-Latino representatives. The purpose of this project is to re-evaluate these earlier findings using more recent data in a changed political context. In addition, the project will examine the effects that different types of Democrats have on Latino representation. The findings suggest that when it comes to support for Latino issues, there are differences between the parties, and within the Democratic Party. An unexpected source of Latino representation, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, is also revealed in the findings.

Artificial intelligence and human rights: a comprehensive study from Indian legal and policy perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheshadri Chatterjee ◽  
Sreenivasulu N.S.
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Criminal Liability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Perspective ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rights Issues ◽  
Comprehensive Study

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the human rights issue. This study has also examined issues with AI for business and its civil and criminal liability. This study has provided inputs to the policymakers and government authorities to overcome different challenges. Design/methodology/approach This study has analysed different international and Indian laws on human rights issues and the impacts of these laws to protect the human rights of the individual, which could be under threat due to the advancement of AI technology. This study has used descriptive doctrinal legal research methods to examine and understand the insights of existing laws and regulations in India to protect human rights and how these laws could be further developed to protect human rights under the Indian jurisprudence, which is under threat due to rapid advancement of AI-related technology. Findings The study provides a comprehensive insight on the influence of AI on human rights issues and the existing laws in India. The study also shows different policy initiatives by the Government of India to regulate AI. Research limitations/implications The study highlights some of the key policy recommendations helpful to regulate AI. Moreover, this study provides inputs to the regulatory authorities and legal fraternity to draft a much-needed comprehensive policy to regulate AI in the context of the protection of human rights of the citizens. Originality/value AI is constantly posing entangled challenges to human rights. There is no comprehensive study, which investigated the emergence of AI and its influence on human rights issues, especially from the Indian legal perspective. So there is a research gap. This study provides a unique insight of the emergence of AI applications and its influence on human rights issues and provides inputs to the policymaker to help them to draft an effective regulation on AI to protect the human rights of Indian citizens. Thus, this study is considered a unique study that adds value towards the overall literature.

scholarly journals “Walking on egg shells”: Brexit, British values and educational space

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 981-997
Author(s):  
Francis Farrell
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Initial Teacher Education ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Content Type ◽  
School Settings ◽  
Transformative Teaching ◽  
Civic Nationalism ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically explore and foreground secondary religious education (RE) student teachers’ accounts of the dilemmas they experienced in their classrooms and schools in a highly racialised post referendum environment. Teacher narratives are analysed in order to suggest ways in which a transformative teaching and learning agenda drawing from a pluralistic human rights framework can be reasserted in place of government requirements to promote fundamental British values (FBV). Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data were collected in focus group interviews to gain insights into how the referendum environment was experienced phenomenologically in localised school settings. Findings The interview data reveals the complex ways in which the discourses circulating in the post referendum milieu play out in highly contingent, diverse secondary school settings. These schools operate in a high stakes policy context, shaped by the new civic nationalism of FBV, the Prevent security agenda and government disavowal of “multiculturalism” in defence of “our way of life” (Cameron, 2011). A key finding to emerge from the teachers’ narratives is that some of the ways in which Prevent and FBV have been imposed in their schools has reduced the transformative potentials of the critical, pluralistic RE approaches to teaching and learning that is promoted within the context of their university initial teacher education programme. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest that existing frameworks associated with security and civic nationalism are not sufficient to ensure that young citizens receive an education that prepares them for engagement with a post truth, post Brexit racial and political environment. Transformative teaching and learning approaches (Duckworth and Smith, 2018), drawing upon pluralistic, critical RE and human rights education are presented as more effective alternatives which recognise the dignity and agency of both teachers and students. Originality/value This paper is an original investigation of the impact of the Brexit referendum environment on student teachers in a university setting. In the racialised aftermath of the referendum the need for transformative pluralistic and critical educational practice has never been more urgent. The data and analysis presented in this paper offer a compelling argument for a root and branch reformulation of current government security agendas in education.

Human aspirations or human rights?

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1094-1104
Author(s):  
Claire Karle
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Universal Human Rights ◽  
State Actors ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to engender new thinking regarding the intersection between universal human rights and development, and associated programmes. This leads to three subsidiary objectives: demonstrating the mutually reinforcing relationship between human rights and development; considering the practical divide between having and exercising a right; understanding the impact of non-state actors; and emphasising the ways in which state capacity and social capabilities need to be enhanced to both transform the consideration of human rights into a meaningful development catalyst and treat development as a significant contributor to human rights endeavours. Design/methodology/approach The paper begins by exploring the historical and contemporary understanding of the relationship between development and human rights – arguing for the increasing recognition of their mutually reinforcing relationship. The second section analyses the controversy regarding the existence of genuine “universal” human rights; followed by considering whether human rights are mere aspirations or genuine rights – exposing the difficulty of monitoring, evaluating, and enforcing adherence to human rights mandates, particularly given the growth of non-state actors, such as multinational corporations (MNCs)/transnational corporations (TNCs). The paper closes with a call to strengthen social capabilities and state capacities to consolidate the union between development and human rights. Findings Credence is broadly given to the moral argument for including human rights within a development framework. However, the economic argument remains largely neglected and certainly under-emphasized. Human rights and development should not be viewed or pursued as separate ends in themselves – competing objectives for separate organisations or programmes – but as mutually reinforcing. Both drive the same goal: the inclusive, equitable and qualitative development of human well-being. Further, to transform human rights into meaningful development catalysts one needs to be able to “exercise” the given rights – which in turn calls for strengthening social capabilities and state capacities. Originality/value Unlike some previous works, this paper does not prescribe a particular remedy. Rather, accepting the intangibility of human rights and the associated large degree of subjectivity, it provokes the reader to move beyond the strictures of conventional theories and frameworks. For example, the difference between “having” and “exercising” a right – a stark feature of actual practice has frequently been omitted from theoretical discussion. Likewise, the role of non-state actors, such as MNCs and TNCs, and the way in which their power can impede or support development goals and human rights is a relatively new point of discussion demanding further exploration.

US policy towards defence allies could get tougher

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Burden Sharing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Defence Spending ◽  
Military Preparedness

Significance Trump’s remarks renewed speculation that Defense Secretary James Mattis might be one official soon to leave the administration, although Mattis, travelling to Asia yesterday, told media that Trump had assured him of his job and full presidential support. As secretary, Mattis has helped to carry the administration’s message to US allies and defence partners globally. Three themes have emerged in the administration’s often ad hoc approach to alliances: insistence that allies increase their defence burden-sharing; decoupling security and economic relations within the alliance; and giving reduced attention to allies’ human rights records, in favour of security issues. Impacts US defence partners wishing to stay US-aligned may need to make holistic changes to their defence and fiscal arrangements. The Democratic Party supports US military preparedness and alliances but can be more cautious about increasing defence spending. There is considerable scepticism towards NATO in Turkey, which will be an internal strain on the alliance.

Post-US-midterm dynamic could ease China trade spat

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Intellectual Property ◽  
House Of Representatives ◽  
Immediate Release ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Telephone Conversation ◽  
China Trade ◽  
Midterm Elections ◽  
Trade War ◽  
High Level

Significance This follows high-level China-US trade talks restarting after a November 1 Trump-Xi telephone conversation, November 6’s US midterm elections that delivered a Democrat-majority House of Representatives from January 2019 and US-China trade-related frictions at the APEC Summit (November 15-17) preventing a joint communique’s immediate release. These frictions have sparked fears of a US-China ‘trade war’, or worse, and what scenarios and drivers might see this avoided. Impacts China may eye further trade renegotiations with the next US president, from 2021 or 2025. Democrats would want any trade deal to include human rights and environmental protections; Beijing would certainly resist the former. China might offer intellectual property concessions on paper, since there are multiple ways to circumvent such restrictions. Trump could sell a ‘partial’ deal politically, but he may calculate that ‘China-the-adversary’ rhetoric will win more 2020 votes.

Nigeria's opposition could pose renewed challenge

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Niger Delta ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
Presidential Elections ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South West ◽  
Security Challenges ◽  
Food Inflation

Subject Nigerian opposition prospects. Significance Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on January 23 issued a scathing rebuke of President Muhammadu Buhari's performance and implored him not to run for re-election in 2019. Although yet to confirm his intentions, Buhari is expected to be the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) standard-bearer once more. Meanwhile, after four years of national opposition, the former ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP, in office 1999-2015) has overcome debilitating internal divisions and could become a serious electoral prospect once more. While this may lead to a competitive election, it could also potentially exacerbate the country’s manifold security challenges. Impacts The PDP could benefit from a proposed alteration to the electoral timetable to hold gubernatorial ahead of presidential elections. Fuel shortages and food inflation, combined with persistent underemployment and unemployment, will undermine Buhari's economic credentials. Violent election flashpoints are likely to include the central states, parts of the south-west (including Lagos) and the Niger Delta.

US Democrats slowly nearing consensus on trade

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Trade Policy ◽  
House Of Representatives ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Trump Administration

Significance Candidates ranged in their responses, from non-committal on their use of tariffs to criticism of President Donald Trump’s tariff use. The Democratic Party is in the midst of a debate about the direction of trade policy, including whether to pass the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and how to conduct and prioritise trade policy should their nominee win the presidency in November 2020. Impacts The House of Representatives may vote on the USMCA in coming months. If the House does not vote on the USMCA before December 2019, the next window would likely be November-December 2020. The Trump administration will try to show progress in trade talks with China before November 2020, hoping to gain votes.

scholarly journals The past, the present and the future of accounting for human rights

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 526-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken McPhail ◽  
John Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
The Other ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Accounting Research ◽  
Business And Human Rights ◽  
Policy Domain ◽  
Guiding Principles ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss a number of important recent developments in the area of business and human rights and considers the impact of these developments for accounting, assurance and reporting. Following the UN endorsement of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (the Guiding Principles) in June 2011, initiatives related to their implementation have advanced at a rapid pace. Despite the centrality of accounting, assurance and reporting to some of the key initiates – accounting research has, hitherto, lagged behind this growing momentum. In order to address this lacunae, this paper develops an agenda for future research in the area of accounting and human rights. In doing so, the paper provides an overview of the important contributions advanced by the other papers in this special issue of Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ). Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws together and identifies key issues and themes related to the rapidly evolving research and policy domain of business and human rights and considers the relevance of these issues to accounting research. Findings – The paper highlights the wide-ranging impact the Guiding Principles and other developments in business and human rights have for accounting practice and draws attention to potential areas of research for accounting scholars. In particular, the paper highlights the emergence of business and human rights due diligence requirements, including their management and reporting. Further, the paper draws attention to the development of business and human rights reporting and assurance practice – which, while still in its infancy, has gathered considerable momentum and support. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides important insights into emerging issues and developments in business and human rights that have clear relevance to accounting research and practice. Originality/value – This paper, and the other contributions to this special issue of AAAJ, provide a basis and a research agenda for accounting scholars seeking to undertake research in this significant and emerging field.

Foreign Policy Activism and Power in the House of Representatives: Black Members of Congress and South Africa, 1968–1986

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvin B. Tillery
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
House Of Representatives ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
White Supremacist ◽  
Legislative Action ◽  
Congressional Black Caucus ◽  
Black Caucus ◽  
The Will ◽  
First Time

On 3 October 1986, the 99th Congress—acting at the behest of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)—voted to override President Ronald Reagan’s veto of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act (CAAA). The passage of this bill, which placed strict economic sanctions on the white supremacist regime in South Africa, was a watershed moment in American politics for two reasons. First, veto overrides in the foreign policy-making arena are an exceedingly rare form of legislative action. More importantly, this was the first time in American history that the members of a minority group were able to use their positions within the Congress to translate a parochial desire into foreign policy against the will of a sitting president.

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