Local risk perceptions to identify institutional and development planning needs

The article studies how local risk perceptions are influenced by state support for provision of public goods and overall institutional arrangements for the management of common pool resources (CPRs). Purposively selected communities from tribal and settled areas with variations in access to irrigation flows (perennial and non-perennial) set up a matrix for analysis. The composite risk index was constructed by calculating an incidence and severity index based on the local perceptions. The research findings have policy implications for development planning through the identification of livelihood risks, and risks associated with the management of CPRs.

Perceptions locales du risque afin d'identifier les besoins de planification institutionnels et sur le plan du développement

Cet article étudie la manière dont les perceptions locales du risque sont influencées par le soutien apporté par l’État à la fourniture de biens publics et de dispositions institutionnelles globales en vue de la gestion des ressources mises en commun (RMC). Des communautés sélectionnées sur la base d'objectifs définis dans des zones tribales et sédentaires avec un accès variable aux flux d'irrigation (pérennes et non pérennes) forment une matrice pour l'analyse. L'indice composite de risque a été élaboré en calculant un indice de fréquence et de gravité basé sur les perceptions locales. Les conclusions des recherches ont des implications sur le plan des politiques générales pour la planification du développement à travers l'identification des risques pour les moyens de subsistance, et des risques associés à la gestion des RMC.

Percepciones de riesgo locales para identificar las necesidades de planeación institucional y de desarrollo

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo examinar cómo las percepciones de riesgo locales son determinadas por el apoyo estatal para la provisión de bienes públicos y por las normas institucionales generales para la gestión de recursos utilizados en común (common pool resources o cpr). Para el efecto, se seleccionaron comunidades de áreas tribales y urbanizadas que presentaban variaciones de acceso a los flujos de irrigación (perennes y no perennes). Dichas comunidades establecieron una matriz para su análisis. Basándose en las percepciones locales se construyó el índice de riesgo compuesto, calculando un índice de incidencia y de severidad. Los hallazgos de la investigación tienen implicaciones a nivel de políticas públicas para la planeación de desarrollo mediante la identificación de riesgos para los medios de vida y de riesgos asociados al manejo de los cpr.

Percepções de risco locais para identificar as necessidades de planejamento institucional e de desenvolvimento

O artigo estuda como as percepções de risco locais são influenciadas pelo apoio do estado para provisão de bens públicos e arranjos institucionais em geral para a gestão de recursos de uso comum (Common Pool Resources - CPRs). Comunidades selecionadas propositadamente de áreas tribais e de assentamento, com variações no acesso a fontes de irrigação (perenes e não-perenes), estabeleceram uma matriz para análise. O índice de risco composto foi construído calculando-se um índice de incidência e de gravidade com base nas percepções locais. Os resultados da pesquisa possuem implicações de políticas para o planejamento de desenvolvimento através da identificação dos riscos dos meios de subsistência e os riscos associados à gestão dos CPRs.     

Imam Samudra's Justification for Bali Bombing 1

The primary objective of this article is to provide a map of Imam Samudra's thinking behind Bali bombing I as written in his book Aku Melawan Teroris to those who are not able to read the book in its original Indonesian language with an assumption that counterideological effort cannot be executed effectively without understanding the ideas held by terrorism perpetrators. To add value, the article also offers a comparative study between Samudra's thinking and Al Qaeda's ideology. It then points out and provides brief alternative viewpoints to Samudra's thinking. The article ends with some policy recommendations pertaining to counterideological work.     

Towards a new paradigm of the right to self-determination in the world trading system

There has been a shifting meaning of the right to self-determination, since World War Ⅱ, from territorial decolonisation into other meanings such as the right for indigenous people, minorities, ethnics groups and women＇s rights in the territories of independent states. Furthermore, the new phenomenon signifies that it is also used implicitly in the world trading system by states in maintaining their sovereignty from trade liberalization. This has been a dilemma in understanding the right to self-determination within international law. This paper, however, critically evaluates the potential applicability of the right to self-determination in the world trading architecture. It begins by examining the origins, evolution and current struggle to the right to self-determination in the world trading system. It then addresses in General Exceptions, Safeguard Measures and Special and Preferential Treatment as existing and applied principles in the World Trade Organization. It is highlighted that the real world still needs the right to self-determination as a means of struggling for economic justice. The right to self-determination has shifted from the right to transfer territory politically into the right to the transfer of welfare economically and in particular, the right to self-determination of people into the fight to self-determination of states.     

Political Communication on Arab World Television: Evolving Patterns

This article identifies political communication patterns taking shape on Arab world television. Three distinct patterns of political communication are described. In the traditional government-controlled television pattern, official government policies seem to inspire the form and substance of TV's framing of events and issues. In the reformist government-controlled television pattern, while official stands set the parameters of news coverage, professional newswork practices unfamiliar in traditional government-controlled television are well noted. In the liberal commercial pattern, American-style journalism seems to define television's handling of events and issues. To shed light on these patterns, the writer conducts a supplementary analysis of how three television broadcasters representing the three political communication patterns - Syrian Satellite Channel (SSC), Abu Dhabi Satellite Channel (ADSC), and Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel (JSC) - frame national and regional politics in their news programs.     

The human factor in technology transfer

Over the past thirty years developing countries have imported product and information technologies. Despite receiving billions of dollars in products and information, many third world countries are now poorer than 30 years ago. One possible explanation for the failure of technology to transfer effectively is the human dimension--the threat of that technology to the receiving organization's internal status structure. To increase the likelihood of successful technology transfer the following suggestions are offered: seek alternative problem definitions; allow decisionmaking latitude at the most problematic point using appropriate technology; restructure the system prior to introducing the technology.     

Is devaluation contractionary? Empirical evidence for Pakistan

The paper examines the effect of real devaluation on economic growth. In the empirical model we include few other theoretically justified variables e.g., money supply, foreign remittances, and government spending as they appear relevant for Pakistan. The ADF unit root test is used for stationarity of the series. Also, to capture possible structural breaks due to currency regimes shifts, the Saikkonen and Lütkepohl unit root test is used. We apply the ARDL bounds testing approach to cointegration to explore a long run relation among the series; and the variance decomposition method and impulse response function for the direction of causality. The findings affirm cointegrating relation among the series. Real devaluation exerts contractionary effect on economic growth. The results should help in formulating a comprehensive trade policy including the use of competitive devaluation as a tool to correct balance of payments problems.     

Climate resilient planning in Bangladesh: a review of progress and early experiences of moving from planning to implementation

Bangladesh is one of the first least developed countries (LDCs) to develop a long-term climate change strategy, the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP). Two funds were set up after developing the BCCSAP, one using government resources (BCCTF) and the other using donor resources (BCCRF). This paper uses the “building blocks” framework to analyse changes that occur when progressing from planning to finance and implementation by comparing the BCCRF and BCCTF. This analysis reveals how governance enablers are influenced by political economy dynamics that steer funding decisions and implementation outcomes, and provides lessons for countries pursuing climate resilience.     

Jordanian population data on the PCR-based loci: LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8 and GC.

Genotype and allele frequency distributions for PM polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based genetic markers were determined in a Jordanian sample population. Results were obtained using the AmpliType PM PCR Amplification and typing kit. All loci were in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations. The predominant alleles for LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8 and GC loci were B, A, B, A and C respectively. No statistically significant variation was detected in allele frequencies of these loci in Jordanians compared to that in Israeli Arab, U.S Caucasian and Japanese populations. Data presented here can be used to estimate the frequency of a specific DNA profile in the Jordanian population for forensic analyses and paternity testing.     

Violence among Arab elementary school pupils in Israel

This article examines the prevalence of violence in primary schools attended by Arab children in Israel and the relationship between such exposure and violent behavior among these children. Participants are 388 Arab children (aged 10 to 12 years) living in three localities in Israel. The research focuses on three of the child's roles in relation to violence: witness, victim, and perpetrator. An adapted Arabic translation of the Violence Exposure Scale-Revised is administered to children in group settings. The children report more exposure to moderate levels than to severe levels of violence. Boys are exposed to more violence as victims, and witness and perpetrate more violence than girls do. Multiple regression analysis shows that the experience of being a victim predicts violent behavior in the children, above the effects of age and gender. The limitations of the study and its implications for future research and theory development are discussed.