Bhutan’s international profile will grow

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Gross National Happiness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sovereign Bond ◽  
Boundary Disputes ◽  
National Happiness ◽  
International Profile

Significance In a bid to support the recovery of its pandemic-hit economy, it late last year issued its first sovereign bond, for local investors. Separately, boundary disputes with China remain a source of concern in the kingdom. Impacts India will continue to exert strong influence over Bhutan’s foreign policy. Many countries will likely adopt aspects of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness agenda. Bhutan will step up efforts to secure more AstraZeneca jabs so it can administer enough second doses of the vaccine to its adult population.

Domestic matters will determine Mexican foreign policy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Energy Policy ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Critical Rhetoric ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Profile ◽  
Latin American And Caribbean

Significance The move follows Mexico’s hosting of a Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit last month, and provides an opportunity to expand the country’s international profile. However, AMLO generally disregards foreign policy, except as a tool for advancing domestic interests and building public support. Impacts US relations will continue to dominate foreign policy, despite AMLO’s critical rhetoric about rich nations. In the short term, Mexico will frame its foreign policy around calls for increased access to COVID-19 vaccines. Mexico’s energy policy could become a source of international tension, given its potential implications for foreign investors.

scholarly journals Modern Bhutan’s Buddhist Statecraft

2021 ◽  
pp. 71-86
Author(s):  
William J. Long
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
National Security ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Modern State ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Gross National Happiness ◽  
Economic Development Policy ◽  
National Happiness ◽  
Modern Era

AbstractThis chapter introduces the country of Bhutan and its unique pursuit of a Buddhist-inspired foreign policy during the modern era (1949–present). This chapter illustrates how a modern state implements a national security and economic development policy consistent with Buddhist philosophical principles and Buddha’s political and economic teachings and, like the prior chapter, it serves as proof of concept for the possibility of putting Buddhist ideas into practice. The cornerstone of Bhutan’s foreign and domestic policies is its pursuit of Gross National Happiness, a concept that endorses holistic progress in the material, spiritual, emotional, cultural, and environmental welfare of its society.

Gross National Happiness: lessons for sustainability leadership

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sander G. Tideman
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Philosophical Tradition ◽  
Gross National Happiness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Sustainability ◽  
Mahayana Buddhism ◽  
Sustainability Leadership ◽  
National Happiness ◽  
Mahāyāna Buddhism

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look behind the veil of the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH), which has been initiated by the fourth King of Bhutan as an alternative to the traditional development concept of gross national product, by analyzing it as an expression of a particular view of leadership originated in the philosophical tradition of Mahayana Buddhism and exploring its relevance for leadership of sustainable development and sustainable (business) organizations. Design/methodology/approach – Review of literature on GNH in a historical and current context, linking it to trends and concepts in sustainability and leadership. Complemented by author’s observations on regular visits to Bhutan since 2003. Findings – The GNH leadership view consists of a set of principles: first, interrelatedness of economy, society and eco-systems; second, the economy, society and eco-systems can flourish if their needs are served; third, governance is the agent for serving these needs by the creation of societal happiness; and fourth, societal happiness should include the enhancement of subjective happiness and well-being of people. By tracing these principles to the philosophy of Mahayana Buddhism, especially the Bodhisattva ideal, and comparing them to the principles driving sustainability, the paper argues that GNH leadership signifies an innovation in leadership for sustainability. Practical implications – This paper examines how GNH leadership can be applied to organizational and business sustainability, and how it contributes to the emerging theory and practice of sustainability leadership. Social implications – The social relevance of the paper lies in the examination of how GNH leadership can be applied to organizational and business sustainability, and how it contributes to the emerging theory and practice of sustainability leadership. Originality/value – The paper concludes that GNH leadership – as it corresponds to the principles driving sustainability – represents a new model for sustainability leadership.

scholarly journals Abrogation of Neuraminidase Reduces Biofilm Formation, Capsule Biosynthesis, and Virulence of Porphyromonas gingivalis

2011 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Li ◽  
Kurniyati ◽  
Bo Hu ◽  
Jiang Bian ◽  
Jianlan Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Porphyromonas Gingivalis ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Transcriptional Analysis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Organs ◽  
Biochemical Analyses

ABSTRACTThe oral bacteriumPorphyromonas gingivalisis a key etiological agent of human periodontitis, a prevalent chronic disease that affects up to 80% of the adult population worldwide.P. gingivalisexhibits neuraminidase activity. However, the enzyme responsible for this activity, its biochemical features, and its role in the physiology and virulence ofP. gingivalisremain elusive. In this report, we found thatP. gingivalisencodes a neuraminidase, PG0352 (SiaPg). Transcriptional analysis showed thatPG0352is monocistronic and is regulated by a sigma70-like promoter. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that SiaPgis an exo-α-neuraminidase that cleaves glycosidic-linked sialic acids. Cryoelectron microscopy and tomography analyses revealed that thePG0352deletion mutant (ΔPG352) failed to produce an intact capsule layer. Compared to the wild type,in vitrostudies showed that ΔPG352 formed less biofilm and was less resistant to killing by the host complement.In vivostudies showed that while the wild type caused a spreading type of infection that affected multiple organs and all infected mice were killed, ΔPG352 only caused localized infection and all animals survived. Taken together, these results demonstrate that SiaPgis an important virulence factor that contributes to the biofilm formation, capsule biosynthesis, and pathogenicity ofP. gingivalis, and it can potentially serve as a new target for developing therapeutic agents againstP. gingivalisinfection.

Germany’s coalition faces division on several fronts

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Public Image ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strong Emphasis ◽  
Investment Agreement ◽  
Policy Decision Making ◽  
The Eu

Significance The three parties successfully negotiated a coalition agreement with a strong emphasis on modernising Germany’s economy. Throughout the negotiations, the parties presented a public image of stability and harmony, yet several divisive issues will test the new government's stability and effectiveness. Impacts The composition of the new government will make it harder for Berlin to win approval for the EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement. Chancellor Olaf Scholz will seek to prioritise more unity at the EU level when it comes to foreign policy decision-making. The spread of the Omicron variant will slow economic recovery and potentially delay the transition to a greener economy.

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