Kishida's 'new capitalism' revives old agenda

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Security ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Priority ◽  
Catch Up ◽  
New Capitalism ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
The Way ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance The ruling party lost seats, but not as many as predicted and it retains a comfortable majority. This clears the way for Kishida to set about implementing his economic promise: a 'new capitalism' with a greater emphasis on redistribution. Impacts The first priority is tackling COVID-19 and measures directed toward preparing for a future pandemic based on lessons learned from this one. Kishida will maintain his predecessor's focus on digitising government and society, helping Japan catch up in this crucial area. Kishida will make economic security vis-a-vis China a new national priority, entrenching the bilateral rivalry. Endorsement (if not implementation) of a centre-left agenda makes it harder for opposition parties to differentiate themselves.

Japan gender equality policies have economic goals

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Generational Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Female Candidates ◽  
Criminal Penalties ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
The Way

Subject Gender inequality in Japan. Significance The need to improve gender equality has been discussed in Japan for decades, but progress has been slow or non-existent. Impacts The extent of the gendering of elected politics in Japan up until now suggests that progress will be slow. Generational change will likely be needed before the ruling party can field more female candidates. Laws against sexual harassment are more likely to be framed in terms of compensation rather than fines or criminal penalties. Businesses oppose tougher laws against sexual harassment, fearing they will open the way for a flood of lawsuits.

Singapore ruling party faces critical contest

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Electoral Politics ◽  
September 11 ◽  
General Election ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Founding Father ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The City ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

Subject Outlook for Singapore's 2015 general election. Significance Singapore will hold a general election on September 11, its first since the death of the city-state's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has braced his long-incumbent People's Action Party (PAP) for a more difficult contest at the polls than in 2011, with opposition parties expected to better the 10% share of parliamentary seats they held on the dissolution of parliament on August 25. Impacts The People's Action Party will need to define a post-Lee Kuan Yew legacy. The post-September government will need to balance popular concern over foreign workers with Singapore's need for labour. Singaporean electoral politics will become increasingly competitive.

Oromo coalition will trouble Ethiopia’s ruling party

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Electoral System ◽  
Coalition Building ◽  
National Party ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Home State ◽  
Democratic Dialogue ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

Subject Coalition-building ahead of Ethiopia's 2020 elections. Significance Following months of negotiations, the leaders of the three biggest Oromo opposition parties -- the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Oromo National Party (ONP) -- on January 3 announced the formation of the Coalition for Democratic Federalism (CDF). This new platform will pose a serious electoral challenge to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s newly formed Prosperity Party (formerly the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)) in Oromia, Abiy’s home state. Impacts As the OFC is already a member of the Forum for Democratic Dialogue in Ethiopia (MEDREK) opposition alliance, the CDF may also join. Ethiopia’s first-past-the-post electoral system will encourage further coalition-building, especially among opposition parties. If the CDF pushes claims of Oromo ‘ownership’ over Addis Ababa, this would complicate relations with other actors.

Guyana election doubts spark international concern

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Community ◽  
Focus Attention ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Election Result ◽  
Oil Revenues ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance These results indicate that the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance for Change (APNU-AFC) coalition has narrowly won re-election, returning David Granger as president for another term. However, opposition parties have contested the results, with the international community also voicing concerns about the conduct and outcome of the elections. Impacts The contested election count is likely to lead to an overhaul of GECOM staffing and procedures once the current dispute is settled. Companies are set to hold off new investments in Guyana until the incoming government and policy stance are confirmed. The fraud allegations will also focus attention on May elections in neighbouring Suriname, whose ruling party is also seeking re-election. Control over expected windfall oil revenues will make this election result especially hotly contested.

Rethinking the strategic management of human resources: lessons learned from Covid-19 and the way forward in building resilience

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothea Roumpi
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Strategic Human Resource Management ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Organizational Resilience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Way

Purpose Numerous empirical studies and meta-analyses have offered ample evidence for the relationship between the strategic management of human resources and a variety of important organizational outcomes, such as individual- and firm-level performance. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, steered the discussion away from the traditional performance-related outcomes of the strategic human resource management and brought to the fore the importance of resilience. The purpose of this paper is to identify areas in which strategic human resource management can help organizations to become more resilient. Design/methodology/approach On the basis of a brief overview of the different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the management of human resources, this conceptual paper uses the Ability-Motivation-Opportunity framework as the backbone for the development of suggestions for the strategic management of employees to create and maintain organizational resilience. Findings A series of actionable suggestions regarding the way forward in building organizational resilience through the effective and ethical management of employees are presented and discussed. Specifically, the importance of using flexibility-oriented human resource management systems is highlighted. This “flexibility-orientation” involves all functions of human resource management, such as selection, training and compensation. Originality/value The proposed suggestions can benefit organizations by offering actionable recommendations regarding the management of human resources by taking stock of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global financial crisis and Islamic finance: a review of selected literature

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdou DIAW
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Risk Sharing ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Financial System ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Islamic Finance ◽  
Regulatory Body ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis ◽  
The Way

Purpose – This paper aims to critically analyze the opinions of Islamic economists about the global financial crisis to examine: their views on the causes of the crisis, the juristic and economic assessment they make of these causes and the lessons learned and the way forward. Design/methodology/approach – The paper critically reviews selected writings of prominent Islamic economics on the recent financial crisis. Findings – Most of the authors reviewed acknowledged the technical mistakes put forth by many conventional analysts as causes of the crisis. However, they have showed that the adoption of the principles of Islamic finance would have prevented most of those mistakes. The way forward, therefore, for both Islamic and conventional finance is, inter alia, greater reliance on risk sharing to inject more discipline in the system; the establishment of a strong and comprehensive regulatory body to safeguard the resilience of the system; and the integration of Zakat, Awqaf and other voluntary institutions into the financial system to cater for the financial needs of the poor. Practical implications – The importance of integrating the voluntary institutions into the financial system is to make it more inclusive and more equitable. Originality/value – This paper is the most comprehensive literature review on Islamic finance and the global financial crisis.

Syriza is likely to win autumn elections in Greece

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Euro Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Way ◽  
The Imf ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance The reforms will allow the release of fresh funding for banks and a bridging loan to meet debt obligations to the IMF and ECB. A quarter of Syriza deputies rebelled, but mainstream opposition parties voted in favour, paving the way for negotiations with euro-area partners for a third bailout. Another package must be passed on July 22 when again there is expected to be a rift in Syriza's ranks. Impacts The dissenters say they support the government but not the measures it has been required to implement to secure bailout aid. Tsipras must decide whether to live with such uncertainty or discipline the dissenters forcing an early election. He will shuffle his cabinet to replace ministers who failed to support the legislation in parliament.

South Africa's banks could face further political push

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Deputy Minister ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
The Government ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance Mkhwebane's proposal that the SARB should promote broad-based economic growth, rather than focus on inflation and the currency, dominated debates ahead of the ANC's policy conference between June 30-July 5. Subsequently, the ruling party determined that the SARB should be nationalised, while re-affirming its constitutionally guaranteed independence and also demanding the government set up a state bank within six months. Impacts Damaging financial revelations at state-owned enterprises such as Eskom could undermine the impetus for a state-owned bank. Opposition parties could mobilise with civil society groups to try force Mkhwebane’s resignation. Ongoing corruption allegations surrounding the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) could implicate the deputy minister of finance.

CAR election delay may weaken president

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Central African Republic ◽  
Constitutional Amendment ◽  
Legislative Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Dynamics ◽  
Force Majeure ◽  
Political Turmoil ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

Subject Political dynamics around upcoming elections. Significance The Central African Republic (CAR) is considering a constitutional amendment that would extend President Faustin-Archange Touadera’s mandate should elections need to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for December 2020 and the ruling party insists on filling a vacuum in the constitution, which does not anticipate election delays in the case of force majeure. However, opposition parties and civil society see the initiative as unjustified and potentially detrimental to stability. Impacts Election delays could facilitate embezzlement of international funds already disbursed for election preparations. A postponement might also further delay implementation of key peace deal provisions, including security and justice measures. Political turmoil and socio-economic disruptions due to the COVID-19 outbreak could provoke violence in the capital Bangui.

scholarly journals The new normal or the forgotten normal: contesting COVID-19 impact on contemporary architecture and urbanism

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali A. Alraouf
Keyword(s):  
City Planning ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
New Normal ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Way

PurposeThe term New Normal has become a buzzword to describe the anticipated changes in human life across the globe due to the impact of COVID-19. The paper's purpose is challenging the surrender for the notion of the “New Normal” and constructing a framework by which a call for understanding the practice of architecture, urbanism and city planning before the COVID-19 and contest its responsibility towards the city and the community.Design/methodology/approachMethodologically, literature review, analysis of emerging positions and interviews are the selected tools for conducting the research. The paper adopts a position perceiving COVID-19 has provided an opportunity for reflections and revisions about the way people dwell on Earth. The paper aims at analyzing the positive impacts of COVID-19 in sociological and urban perspective.FindingsConsequently, the main finding of the paper, calls for reviving the forgotten normal in the way places, neighborhoods and cities are designed and planned. Lessons learned from the lockdown time and the actions taken will be analyzed with special attention to Gulf States.Research limitations/implicationsIn months, New Normal developed as the most used expression since the spread of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic marked the year 2020 with one of the biggest public health crises of all time, threatening to take away millions of lives. It is already initiating a massive economic crisis, triggering further negative consequences for human life, wellbeing and lifestyle. Numerous researchers illustrate that through history, humans faced the challenges of epidemics and pandemics and were able to use their will, capacities, resources and courage to resist and survive.Practical implicationsPandemics such as COVID-19 have caused a critical reassessment of urban spaces. This paper examines the city's relationship to concepts such as the individual, society, creativity, production and power to understand the causes and effects of urbanization. Cities, especially the globally significant ones – such as Wuhan, Milan, Madrid, Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles – are disproportionally affected. Thus, the pandemic is evolving into an urban crisis, forcing us to reconsider our deeply held beliefs about good city form and the purpose of planning.Social implicationsThe nature of the architectural, urban and planning theory and practice, is responsible for looking ahead, formulating visions and offering alternatives. Consequently, the methodological approach adopted in the paper is structured on three main pillars. First, observing, monitoring, and provide diagnosis (what we learned from isolation). Second, understanding the local, regional and global context as the COVID-19 crisis creates a ripple of change on all levels and requires both global and local understanding. Third, formulating visions and looking aheadOriginality/valueSuffering from epidemics and pandemics is new to our time and our contemporary experience but not new to the history of humankind. Revisiting the concepts of the New Normal vs. the Forgotten Normal and use the outcomes to construct an alternative framework for producing places in the post COVID-19 paradigm crystalize the value and originality of the paper.

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