Iran protests may ease pressure on IRGC Intelligence

Significance The Intelligence Organisation has become increasingly controversial in recent months, with indications that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is not happy with its performance. Both reformists and conservatives have accused Hossein Taeb, its powerful chief, of framing opponents, influence-peddling and political corruption. Seeking to deflect growing criticism of its methods and operations, the Intelligence Organisation has stepped up high-profile announcements of successful operations. Impacts Counter-espionage operations will discourage Iranians abroad and tourists from travelling to Iran. Intelligence Organisation interference with profitable domestic companies may increase risks to private investment. Settlement of political scores between reformists and conservatives will spill over into forthcoming parliamentary elections. Arrests of nationals and residents will undermine the government’s attempt to improve ties with France.

Significance At the same time, the June 18 presidential election campaign is beginning, with top judge Ibrahim Raisi registering as a favoured candidate. Heading a high-profile anti-corruption campaign, Raisi has been a strong advocate of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s ‘resistance economy’ policy to undermine sanctions by supporting domestic production. Impacts Effective legislation to manage conflicts of interest, including of officials’ family members, will likely remain blocked. Local business interests that would benefit from more global links may have a strong voice even under a conservative government. The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps will keep a firm grip on the infrastructure sector.


Subject The outlook for anti-corruption frameworks in South-east Asia and ASEAN. Significance Over the last two decades, national anti-corruption commissions in the ASEAN-core countries -- Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines -- have become more powerful and capable of coordinating high-profile anti-corruption campaigns against those holding public office. However, such efforts have in some cases become intensely politicised, and some national commissions have struggled to remain autonomous. This will affect governance and business, especially with ASEAN integrating and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) coming in late 2015. Impacts With elections delayed to late 2016, further corruption probes of Thai opposition figures are likely. Indonesia's anti-corruption commission faces a battle to protect its autonomy, and may see its capacity hindered. The Philippines' presidential transition in mid-2016 will determine the ongoing success of the current anti-corruption drive. Malaysia's anti-corruption commission may gain institutional strength through the '1MDB' investigation. Deepening ASEAN economic integration could increase cross-border and domestic opportunities for political corruption.


Significance Two-thirds of legislators in the conservative-dominated parliament today called on four of the five conservative candidates to withdraw in favour of frontrunner Ibrahim Raisi, now polling at over 60% of the vote; one has so far done so. The other candidate in the 13th presidential poll since the 1979 revolution is a moderate technocrat, Abdolnasser Hemmati. Impacts The main focus of the new president is likely to be on reviving the ‘resistance’ economy, including high-profile anti-corruption efforts. The new government could potentially bring in constitutional changes, which might involve increased Islamicisation. Concurrent voting in elections to city councils, which deal with issues that impact ordinary Iranians, could be more competitive. After the poll, attention will turn to the contest over succession to the supreme leader.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Grafstein ◽  
Rongbin Han ◽  
Weiqi Zhang

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandros Apostolakis ◽  
Shabbar Jaffry ◽  
Faye Sizeland ◽  
Adam Cox

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential for utilizing a unique resource, such as the Historic Portsmouth Harbor, in order to differentiate the local brand. Design/methodology/approach – The objective of the paper is to examine the role of unique local resources and attractions as a source of competitive advantage through destination branding. Findings – The main findings of the paper indicate that policy makers and destination managers should more proactively utilize the unique elements of the Historic Portsmouth Harbor “brand,” as opposed to the commonplace “waterfront city” brand. This could be achieved by staging events of international significance or through a bid for gaining world heritage status. In addition to that, the paper argues that in order for this branding initiative to have a higher impact, a prominent high profile individual should be appointed. This individual could act as a leader or “brand ambassador” in order to attract stakeholder interest and participation. Originality/value – The paper could be of value to destination managers and marketing organizations in a local, sub-regional and regional level.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Garcia-Amate ◽  
Alicia Ramírez-Orellana ◽  
Alfonso A. Rojo Ramirez

PurposeThis study aims to examine the attractiveness of the regional Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) and several renewable energy indexes during December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2019. This study uses a risk-return analysis and a set of explanatory factors. Lastly, this study conducts a comparative analysis of these indexes with conventional indexes. Design/methodology/approachThis study uses data from Eikon, a Thomson Reuters database. To analyze the indexes’ behavior, this study uses the indexes’ annual return as of December 31 for each year. Next, this study estimates the Fama and French’s five-factor model using an ordinary least squares regression for regional DJSI and renewable energy indexes. FindingsThe results show that regional DJSIs delivered returns both above and below conventional indexes. In contrast, renewable energy indexes had high betas and negative returns, making them unattractive to investors. Practical implicationsThe results imply the need for public financing programs that support the transition to a sustainable economy and reduce risk and increase the return on private investment. Social implicationsThis study provides insights for policymakers regarding the importance of sustainability indexes in the transition to a green economy. Originality/valueThis study contributes to the growing literature on Fama and French’s five-factor model of sustainability indexes, especially in the current context characterized by intense green political changes. In particular, this study complements the few studies that have addressed the economic implications of renewable energy indexes in markets.


Significance This is expected to be followed by the first parliamentary election since 2014, at some point in early 2022. It now looks increasingly likely that both elections will be delayed. The electoral process lacks the elements it would need to be truly transformative, but it is prompting shifts in the political elite which will dictate developments for at least the next year. Impacts Khalifa Haftar will keep pushing for his armed group to form the core of Libya’s future army Seif al-Islam Qadhafi’s candidacy in the elections is unlikely to result in him becoming president. Aguileh Saleh looks set to stay on as House of Representatives speaker with no clear date for parliamentary elections.


Significance Although large-scale social protest in Bahrain has been cowed over the ten years since the ‘Arab uprisings’, small-scale demonstrations recur, reflecting a base level of discontent. Mobilising issues include economic pressures, limited political representation (especially of the Shia majority) and, most recently, ties with Israel. Impacts Despite protests, Israel’s and Bahrain’s respective ambassadors will keep up high-profile activity and statements. The authorities are likely to exaggerate the role of Iranian interference in order to deepen the Sunni-Shia divide. If Riyadh manages to extricate itself from the Yemen war, that could partly reduce the pressure on Manama.


Significance His government is in an impasse with the conservative parliament over the draft budget for the new fiscal year beginning on March 21. Rouhani needs the US sanctions to be lifted fast and a COVID-19 vaccination campaign to allow for an exit from the pandemic in order to meet his economic promises. Impacts The supreme leader will become even more closely involved in shaping economic policy, with the autarkic ‘resistance’ narrative dominant. Khamenei may seek a new ‘jihadi manager’ president, linked to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), who follows his economic vision. Progress with vaccinations, which began on February 8, will likely be slow, as supplies have become highly politicised.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doyeop Kim ◽  
Matthew Walker ◽  
Jun Heo ◽  
Gi-Yong Koo

Purpose Although high-profile sport league website sponsorships have increased in popularity over the last decade, academic research on the topic has not kept pace, resulting in little knowledge of ways to improve the effectiveness of this sponsorship type. This paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach The current study examined the influence of three website-related variables (i.e. website interactivity, website fit, and website credibility), while controlling for a sponsor-related variable (i.e. sponsor familiarity), on consumer attitude toward the sponsor ad and willingness to click on its banner ad. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated three main effects. Practical implications are discussed with limitations and suggestions for future research. Findings This study found three important things. First, website interactivity played an important role in attitude toward the ad and willingness to click on the banner ad. Second, website fit influenced attitude toward the ad and willingness to click on the banner ad. Third, website credibility influenced attitude toward the ad. Originality/value The findings suggest that in order to maximize online sports sponsorship outcomes, companies must keep in mind that the interactivity between the web users and the site should be regarded as the most pragmatic result which could come from the online sports sponsorship territory.


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