scholarly journals THE NATIONAL INTEREST OF CHINA IN THEIR ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH THE GAMBIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-101
Author(s):  
Omar Samba ◽  
Ebrima Jatta
Keyword(s):  
Financial Support ◽  
Research Question ◽  
National Interest ◽  
Economic Cooperation ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Political Aspect ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
The One

This paper aims at finding out the national interest of China in conducting economic cooperation with the Gambia from 2016. Relying on qualitative inquiry, this research is informed by the theoretical concepts from national interest. In terms of national interest, the political aspect of the national interest of Morgenthau and the economic aspect of Donald E. Nuechterlein is used to analyze the national interest of China in the Gambia. To answer the research question: What is China’s national interest in their economic cooperation with the Gambia? The research finds out that China has political and economic interests in the Gambia. Politically, China’s interest in the Gambia is clearly stated in the joint communique signed between China and the Gambia when they were resuming their diplomatic relations in 2016. As a form of this agreement, the Gambia is supporting the One-China principle by not opening official relations with Taiwan. Finally, China retains an economic interest to secure the Gambian market for Chinese products and natural resources for Chinese manufacturing industries. Most importantly, is the port of the Gambia which has a strategic location in the west Africa region and is crucial to the China’s belt and road initiative. China has become one of the major sources of financial support for the Gambia since resuming economic cooperation in 2016. This financial support includes giving loans, grants, aid, and trade. As can be seen from the analysis of the dependency perspective, this research shows that China uses its loans and grants to monopolized the Gambia market for Chinese goods and Chinese investment which likely creates contracts for Chinese companies and provide job opportunities for Chinese citizens. Keywords: national interest, China, The Gambia, economic cooperation, one-china principle.

A Culture of Organizational Grit From the Perspective of U.S. Military Officers: A Qualitative Inquiry

2021 ◽  
pp. 0095327X2098519
Author(s):  
Celeste Raver Luning ◽  
Prince A. Attoh ◽  
Tao Gong ◽  
James T. Fox
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Growth Mindset ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Military Officers ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Professional Pride ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Military

With the backdrop of the utility of grit at the individual level, speculation has begun to circulate that grit may exist as an organizational level phenomenon. To explore this potential construct, this study used an exploratory, qualitative research design. This study explored grit at the organizational level by interviewing leaders’ perceptions of what may be a culture of organizational grit. Participants included 14 U.S. military officers. Seven themes emerged relative to the research question: “What do U.S. military officers perceive as a culture of organizational grit?” Themes included professional pride, team unity, resilience-determination, mission accomplishment, core values, growth mindset, and deliberate practice. This study indicated that a culture of organizational grit is likely a combination of converging organizational elements. Overall, findings indicate that there may be a culture of organizational grit in the military and at the least, more research examining the concept is warranted.

scholarly journals Integration Perspectives of Eurasian Land-Based Transport Corridors: Empirical Evidence from the OBOR and Rail Baltica Initiatives

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-25
Author(s):  
Anatoli Beifert ◽  
Gunnar Prause ◽  
Yury Shcherbanin
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
One Belt One Road ◽  
Strategic Role ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Silk Route ◽  
Framework Conditions ◽  
The One

Abstract Land-based Trans-Eurasian transport corridors, their current development and perspectives have been high on the political agenda in the last two decades not only in Europe and China but also in the transit countries such as russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. A number of conceptual initiatives are already being implemented. The Belt and road or the one Belt, one road (oBor) initiative on the Chinese side and the rail Baltica project from the European perspective have gained special attention. Big-scale infrastructural projects are also being implemented by transit countries, e.g., the construction of a motorway from China to Europe—from Kazakhstan via russia to Belarus—to facilitate the land-based shortcut for cargo transport within the Eurasian transport corridor. This article investigates the general framework conditions of infrastructural investments into projects related to Eurasian logistics and discusses strategic areas of intersection between the European activities and the new Silk Way. in the framework of the oBor initiative, this article also addresses the interaction of the Chinese–Kazakh–russian–Belarusian –polish railway transport, with a special focus on Belarusian–polish cross-border issues. The authors have participated in several projects focusing on transport corridors and discuss the research question of how different Eurasian land-based transport corridors can be integrated and which strategic role can the rail Baltica project play in the context of the new Silk route. The research is based on surveys, expert interviews, secondary data research and case studies.

scholarly journals Protocol to assess the values and preferences towards SARS-CoV-2 self-testing among the general population and their representatives, healthcare personnel and decision-makers in health: a multi-country mixed methods study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonjelle Shilton ◽  
Elena Ivanova Reipold ◽  
Albert Roca ◽  
Guillermo Z. Martínez-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
General Population ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Views And Perceptions

UNSTRUCTURED Background: Accessible, safe and client-centred SARS-CoV-2 testing services are an effective way to halt its transmission. Testing enables individuals to isolate or quarantine to prevent further transmission. In countries with limited health systems and laboratory capacity, the provision of accessible and safe screening for COVID-19 is challenging. Self-testing provides a convenient, private and safe testing option. However, it also raises some important concerns relating to a lack of counselling and a clear pathway to ensure timely reporting of self-test results to national surveillance systems. Investigating community members’ views and perceptions is crucial to inform the most effective and safe strategies for implementing SARS-CoV-2 self-testing. Methods: This study will be conducted in nine countries: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines and South Africa. It is a multi-site, mixed methods, observational study that consists of two components: cross-sectional surveys and a qualitative inquiry among four respondent groupings: the general population, general population representatives, healthcare workers and decision-makers. Our main research question is how useful, and under which circumstances, would SARS-CoV-2 self-testing be for populations in low-resource settings, to diagnose and prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2? The general population and the healthcare worker surveys will be analysed separately, using bivariate and multivariate inferential analysis and descriptive statistics. The qualitative inquiries, which will comprise semi-structured interviews and group interviews, will be audio recorded, transcribed and coded. Thematic analysis will be conducted. Discussion: The views and perceptions of local populations are crucial for leading the discussion around the safest strategies for implementing SARS-CoV-2 self-testing. This study intends to generate evidence about the different sociocultural specificities that may hinder or accelerate the widespread utilisation of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing. Dissemination of results will be via publications, presentations at conferences, and dissemination events specifically targeted at local decision makers, civil society and patient groups.

scholarly journals Reviewing the National Courts in Creating Orderly International Law and Community

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
Johanis Leatemia
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
National Court ◽  
National Interest ◽  
The Other ◽  
Peaceful Coexistence ◽  
National Sovereignty ◽  
Customary International Law ◽  
National Courts ◽  
The One

Orderly international community and international law are determined by a national court. Essentially, the national court must be competent to maintain the balance between the national interest which based on the national sovereignty as well as the provisions of international law within the framework of peaceful coexistence. This article reviews the role of national courts in creating and developing the customary international law. As it turns out in practice, however, it has certain weaknesses, particularly in view of the accountability and legitimacy aspects of its establishment. This purpose could be achieved if national courts were able to maintain a balance between the national interest based on the sovereignty of State on the one hand and the provisions of international law on the other. The function of the national court was to maintain a balance between international law and national law.

scholarly journals An Exploratory Study on Digital Transformation and Communication within the Moroccan Firms

2021 ◽  
pp. 92-101
Author(s):  
Houda Bassim
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Know How ◽  
The One ◽  
Use Of Internet

Starting from the beginning of the third millennium, firms around the world in various economic sectors have been powerfully affected by the evolution process of digital technology and associated internet developments. The use of Internet and new digital technologies has been considered as a great revolution that will allow companies to benefit from new opportunities, in order to extend their activities and profitability, specifically through decreases in costs. While some companies have been investing rapidly in this new filed with the aim to take advantages of new opportunities, others seem to fail in following such developmental pattern. The main research question in the present paper is to understand perceptions of a sample of Moroccan firms operating in Casablanca, regarding the currently observed process of communication-based digital transformation worldwide. In this sense, our study turns to be exploratory, that is based on open interviews, within a focus group of professionals in the digital sector, rather than on collected data and effective orientations. Such exploratory analysis will be followed by upcoming empirical studies for a more comprehensive understanding of the profession. Our research paper aspires thereby to better grasping the process of digitalization of communication channels among the firms’ professionals, as selected. The ultimate target is to know how well firms are evolving in utilizing newly integrated digital tools, with respect to innovation and trademarks. To address this issue in an exploratory perspective, we have resorted to a focus group-based enquiry with six professionals of firms operating in Casablanca. The methodological framework relies upon qualitative data, as collected through the conducted interviews.      The major research finding of the present paper is that the pattern of digital transformation and communication seems to follow the one observed worldwide. Nevertheless, in spite of strong customers’ expectations, some hesitations and inadequate fundraising allocations partially explain the relative slowness of the process. In terms of policy implications, a suitable public-private partnership is still needed so as Morocco can foster digital transformation for economic and social development as well as improvements in the population’s standards of life, especially through investment in human capital for better attractivity-generating progress.

scholarly journals On Governance and the Demographic Transition

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 319-330
Author(s):  
Flaubert Mbiekop
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Transition ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Overlapping Generations ◽  
The Other ◽  
Overlapping Generations Model ◽  
Child Quality ◽  
Mild Conditions ◽  
Weak Institutions ◽  
The One ◽  
Fertility Choices

It is now conventional wisdom that institutions shape household fertility choices, especially in developing countries. However, deeper insights into the mechanisms at play are still needed. This paper develops a game-theoretical framework with a simple overlapping-generations model to show how a typical household may come to prefer bearing and raising numerous children as a savings scheme for retirement and not rely on conventional outlets for saving when facing weak institutions. On the one hand weak institutions increase the risk that individuals may lose their savings if relying on conventional outlets. On the other hand, childbearing as an investment/savings scheme carries with it the risk that disguised or complete unemployment may prevent grown children from providing the expected old-age financial support. The typical household thus trades off between both types of risks, yet with more control in the latter case, as the likelihood of unemployment can be reduced by carefully selecting a child quality-quantity strategy. Mild conditions are sufficient to show that sound institutions induce less fertility and foster private saving and oldage consumption. A simple voting experiment unveils a tricky socio- economic dynamics whereby wealthier households may have stakes supporting weak institutions.

scholarly journals “Be authentic”: Authenticity Norms in German Politics and Self-Idealizations of Members of the Bundestag

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Geimer ◽  
Steffen Amling
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Fine Arts ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Authentic Self ◽  
Federal Level ◽  
German Politics ◽  
Private Lives ◽  
German Bundestag ◽  
Governmentality Studies ◽  
Professional Fields

This contribution goes back to a study of the formative power of identity norms in professional fields of occupation (fine arts and politics). In this article, we focus on the understanding of identity norms that members of the German Bundestag have to meet and/or to cope with. Thus, our research question is which demands professional politicians encounter and which ways of dealing with them are established. Operating at the intersection of governmentality studies, subjectivation analysis and qualitative inquiry, and based on narrative interviews with MPs, this paper demonstrates how in the field of German politics (at federal level) the MPs orientate their professional praxis towards the identity norm of an authentic self and conform to the expectation of a contradiction-free relationship between professional and private lives. In the process, the MPs develop idealizations of their selves in which aspects of their habitus become reflexive. We especially discuss these results against the backdrop of the emergence of modern parliaments and, methodologically, regarding the relation between habitual-implicit and reflexive-explicit structures of knowledge which are especially relevant in subjectivation analysis.

ASYMMETRIC INTERDEPENDENCE AS A BASIS FOR FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN MODERN CONDITIONS

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1477-1488
Author(s):  
R.V. Ozarnov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Cooperation ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Present Stage ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
Trade Model ◽  
National Currencies ◽  
The Face ◽  
General Scientific ◽  
The One

The article is devoted to the study of the theoretical and methodological foundations for the development of financial and economic cooperation between countries at the present stage, as well as the features of financial and economic relations diversification in order to reduce the asymmetric interdependence of countries in the face of increasing global imbalances, increased volatility of world financial markets, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The subject of this research is economic relations arising in the process of interaction between countries both on a bilateral basis and in a multilateral format. The paper deals with Russian-Chinese cooperation. On the one hand, the complementarity of the basic sectors of the economy of the two countries objectively contributes to increasing cooperation and trade. On the other hand, the asymmetric interdependence of Russia and its foreign trade partners, in particular China, contributes to the conservation of an archaic trade model based on Russian raw material export and Chinese manufacturing products. Methods for diversifying financial and economic relations are proposed, consisting in expanding the flows of foreign direct investment, using and developing technical and innovative progress, reducing transaction costs, trade and investment barriers, deepening Russian-Chinese cooperation within the BRICS, SCO and other organizations and expanding the scope of using national currencies in mutual settlements. The research is based on general scientific methods of cognition, such as analysis, synthesis, comparison, graphic interpretation of statistical information, time series. On the basis of the study, the author concluded that diversification of financial and economic relations helps to reduce the asymmetric interdependence of countries at the present stage. The novelty of the article lies in the substantiation of the phenomenon of asymmetric interdependence as a method for studying the problems and trends of financial and economic cooperation between countries, highlighting the drivers of diversification, which allows reducing asymmetric interdependence. On the basis of a comparative statistical analysis, the tendency of reorientation of Russia’s foreign economic activity towards Asian markets, in particular, the PRC market, has been confirmed.

Whiteness in the Twenty-First Century

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Civil Rights ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Mixed Race ◽  
Legal Discourse ◽  
Federal Court ◽  
Dramatic Shift ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Post Civil Rights

In this chapter, I examine the extent to which one-drop ideology continues to dictate the legal definition of whiteness. The following questions serve as the basis of my research: 1) How do “white,” “mixed race or colored,” and the “one-drop rule” operate as ideographs in post-civil rights legal discourse? 2) Has the codification of the one-drop rule and whiteness been severed in contemporary legal discourse? To address the first research question, I use an ideographic analysis to examine legal briefs from the Malone Brothers and Mary Walker cases. To address my second research question, I complete a content analysis of state and/or federal court cases, 12 involving racial identity from 1980 to 2012, thereby demonstrating that a dramatic shift occurs in how white and mixed race are defined in the language endorsed by court justices.

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