Stemming the flow of bood? The illusion of self-regulation

This paper considers the viability of the self-regulation of occupational safety. It reports upon case studies of six companies currently operating in the UK chemicals sector. These companies and this sector provide highly favourable ‘testing sites’ for self-regulatory practices. However, through an examination of the power and location of safety staff within organisations, forms of management accountability, the state of safety training, and the mechanisms for communicating compliance problems, it becomes clear that many of the fundamental elements of self-regulation are not being met. This highlights the dangers of placing faith in self-regulation as a strategy that can be generalized, and indicates that compliance with safety regulations and standards must be forced upon companies by various stakeholding groups.     

Mexico's Southern Flank: The “Third” U.S. Border

Mexico's crime-ridden southern frontier has become a veritable third U.S. border, as a constant flow of Central Americans and others cross into Mexico, often en route to the United States. As the number of unlawful migrants surges, their characteristics are changing: recent apprehensions include nationals of Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and Asian nations, and foreigners linked to terrorism are using Mexico as a thoroughfare to the United States. Mexico's immigration department is hindered by a number of factors in stanching this flow, and Mexican officials have only begun to publicly recognize the severity of the problem. Washington, too, must wake up to the security threat posed by Mexico's soft underbelly.     

North Korea: The Case for Strategic Entanglement

North Korea is a state shrouded in secrecy, yet it receives an enormous amount of media attention. Its reclusive nature makes analysis difficult and speculative. What is certain is that a dangerous stalemate regarding nuclear weapons has persisted for far too long and is an obstacle to any real change in the political system. History, culture, and ideology all rule the state's actions; it is therefore a mistake to assume North Korean negotiators can act with autonomy. A new and dynamic means to deal with this dilemma should be developed, for the past has demonstrated that threats and demands will not coerce Pyongyang into submitting, in fact, that approach will only exacerbate the problem. An effective means to move beyond the stalemate is needed.