Grass-Roots Stirrings and the Future of Politics

1983 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.L. Sheth

This paper explores the possibility of the prevailing widespread frustration and disillusionment with modern politics, as much for its failure to make good the promise it had held out as for the incapacity of its structures and institutions to find even token solutions to the problems and crises which beset the present-day world, being canalized towards a new politics of the future. Frustration and disillusionment are all too plain to be either ignored or denied; they are writ large in the world-wide discontent, unrest, turbulence and turmoil. They find expression in a variety of popular movements focused on particular issues, for the most part spontaneous and lacking formal organizations but all having broken out of the conventional framework of modern politics. The bankruptcy of modern politics is equally plain; it is writ large in the crisis of global economy, world-wide stagflation, low growth rate even in ‘advanced’ capitalist countries which swear by growth rate, rising unemployment everywhere, fast growing disparity between the North and the South and between the rich and the poor in both North and South, and the resource crunch which has propelled militarization and arms race to the point where the survival of the human race is at stake. That the straining at the leash should be the hardest at the periphery of periphery is not surprising; for it is there that the combined structural weight of inequity, injustice, exploitation, oppression and social terror bears most heavily; but popular movements have sprouted also in societies of the centre. The case study of one particular Third World country presented here is only illustrative. The paper examines a number of grass roots movements, classifies them by the issues they agitate and by the forms agitations take and speculates about how far, with their growing awareness of the vertical links between the structure at the micro level and macro level, and under what conditions, they may be said to be moving towards laying the foundations of new politics.

This chapter is a transcript of Haq’s address to the North South Roundtable of 1992, where he identifies five critical challenges for the global economy for the future. If addressed properly, these can change the course of human history. He stresses on the need for redefining security to include security for people, not just of land or territories; to redefine the existing models of development to include ‘sustainable human development’; to find a more pragmatic balance between market efficiency and social compassion; to forge a new partnership between the North and the South to address issues of inequality; and the need to think on new patterns of governance for the next decade.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Xin Cui ◽  
Wenhui Zhao

In the context of the new normal, the global economy is entering a deep adjustment period, and the driving forces of development are also constantly changing. As a result, China’s economy has also entered a “new normal” phase in which it is growing in a manageable and relatively balanced manner. In addition, the new normal characteristics of the power industry’s development in China are also very significant, and they affect the adaptability of traditional power forecasting methods. By analyzing the new characteristics of China’s economic development and the changing electricity demand in recent years, this paper quantitatively studied the effect of the national economy on the consumption of electricity. Meanwhile, a modified logistic model based on the change of the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate is constructed to make a reasonable prediction of the future power consumption in China. Subsequently, by calculating the elasticity of electricity consumption in the future, it is found that the coefficient decreases each year, which indicates that electricity consumption in China is following a new trend. Based on the research results, this paper proposes rational suggestions for China’s power development, and they are expected to provide references for the power planning and power industry layout in China.


2005 ◽  
pp. 4-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Sonin

In unequal societies, the rich may benefit from shaping economic institutions in their favor. This paper analyzes the dynamics of institutional subversion by focusing on public protection of property rights. If this institution functions imperfectly, agents have incentives to invest in private protection of property rights. The ability to maintain private protection systems makes the rich natural opponents of public protection of property rights and precludes grass-roots demand to drive the development of the market-friendly institution. The economy becomes stuck in a bad equilibrium with low growth rates, high inequality of income, and wide-spread rent-seeking. The Russian oligarchs of the 1990s, who controlled large stakes of newly privatized property, provide motivation for this paper.


2019 ◽  
pp. 79-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. Nazarov ◽  
S. S. Lazaryan ◽  
I. V. Nikonov ◽  
A. I. Votinov

The article assesses the impact of various factors on the growth rate of international trade. Many experts interpreted the cross-border flows of goods decline against the backdrop of a growing global economy as an alarming sign that indicates a slowdown in the processes of globalization. To determine the reasons for the dynamics of international trade, the decompositions of its growth rate were carried out and allowed to single out the effect of the dollar exchange rate, the commodities prices and global value chains on the change in the volume of trade. As a result, it was discovered that the most part of the dynamics of international trade is due to fluctuations in the exchange rate of the dollar and prices for basic commodity groups. The negative contribution of trade within global value chains in 2014 was also revealed. During the investigated period (2000—2014), such a picture was observed only in the crisis periods, which may indicate the beginning of structural changes in the world trade.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rubén D. Manzanedo ◽  
Peter Manning

The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak pandemic is now a global crisis. It has caused 1.6+ million confirmed cases and 100 000+ deaths at the time of writing and triggered unprecedented preventative measures that have put a substantial portion of the global population under confinement, imposed isolation, and established ‘social distancing’ as a new global behavioral norm. The COVID-19 crisis has affected all aspects of everyday life and work, while also threatening the health of the global economy. This crisis offers also an unprecedented view of what the global climate crisis may look like. In fact, some of the parallels between the COVID-19 crisis and what we expect from the looming global climate emergency are remarkable. Reflecting upon the most challenging aspects of today’s crisis and how they compare with those expected from the climate change emergency may help us better prepare for the future.


The Eye ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (128) ◽  
pp. 19-22
Author(s):  
Gregory DeNaeyer

The world-wide use of scleral contact lenses has dramatically increased over the past 10 year and has changed the way that we manage patients with corneal irregularity. Successfully fitting them can be challenging especially for eyes that have significant asymmetries of the cornea or sclera. The future of scleral lens fitting is utilizing corneo-scleral topography to accurately measure the anterior ocular surface and then using software to design lenses that identically match the scleral surface and evenly vault the cornea. This process allows the practitioner to efficiently fit a customized scleral lens that successfully provides the patient with comfortable wear and improved vision.


Author(s):  
Serhii Voitko ◽  
◽  
Yuliia Borodinova ◽  

The article examines the interaction of the national economy of Ukraine with international credit and financial organizations, evaluates the positive and negative consequences and identifies possible areas for further cooperation. The role of international credit and financial organizations in the development of the global economy is analyzed. Today, international financial institutions have taken a leading place among institutions that provide financial support and contribute to the implementation of necessary reforms aimed at developing enterprises in various sectors of the economy and strengthening the country's financial sector as a whole. The importance of cooperation between Ukraine and international financial institutions for the development of the country's economy has been determined. The problems and directions of development of cooperation with leading credit and financial organizations in modern conditions are identified. Despite the presence of certain shortcomings, cooperation between Ukraine and international credit and financial organizations will continue in the future.


Author(s):  
Peter M. Fischer ◽  
Patrik Klingborg ◽  
Fanny Kärfve ◽  
Fredrika Kärfve ◽  
C. Hagberg ◽  
...  

Determination of the complete occupational sequence of the site, including investigation of pre-12th century levels which were thoroughly studied by P. Åström since the 1970s, is the main task of the planned project. During the course of the expedition (NSCE11) in spring 2010 a ground-penetrating radar survey (GPR) was carried out at Dromolaxia Vizatzia/Hala Sultan Tekke in Area 6, leading to the discovery of a large Late Cypriote complex. The compound is bordered to the north by a substantial wall, against which nine rooms (so far) could be exposed. Two occupational phases have been verified but there are indications of a third. The suggested functions of the various structures of the most recent phase are: living, working, storage and administration spaces. The rich find contexts point to the production of textiles and metal objects, and the locally produced pottery is generally of a high quality. There are also many imports, mainly from the Mycenaean sphere of culture. The locally produced vessels from Phase 2 include the “Creature krater” which is a masterpiece of a high artistic standard. Another piece of elevated artistry is the piece of a “Warrior vase”.


2012 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 298-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Potemkin ◽  
T. Ahti

Riccia marginata Lindb. was described by S. O. Lindberg (1877) from the outskirts of the town of Sortavala near the north shore of Lake Ladoga, Republic of Karelia, Russia. The species has been forgotten in most recent liverwort accounts of Europe, including Russia. Lectotypification of R. marginata is provided. R. marginata shares most characters with R. beyrichiana Hampe ex Lehm. It differs from “typical” plants of R. beyrichiana in having smaller spores, with ± distinctly finely areolate to roughly papillose proximal surfaces and a narrower and shorter thallus, as well as in scarcity or absence of marginal hairs. It may represent continental populations of the suboceanic-submediterranean R. beyrichiana, known in Russia from the Leningrad Region and Karelia only. The variability of spore surfaces in R. beyrichiana is discussed and illustrated by SEM images. A comparison with the spores of R. bifurca Hoffm. is provided. The question how distinct R. marginata is from R. beyrichiana needs to be clarified by molecular studies in the future, when adequate material is available. R. marginata is for the time being, provisionally, included in R. beyrichiana.


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