Exploring national and regional orchestration of non-state action for a < 1.5 °C world

The importance of actions by non-state and sub-national actors (e.g., companies and cities) is increasingly recognized, because current governmental commitments are insufficient to limit the increase of global temperatures to 1.5 °C. Orchestration, the alignment between ‘orchestrator’ (e.g., international organizations and governments) and ‘intermediaries’ (e.g., city networks and partnerships), could harness additional contributions by building catalytic linkages and by enabling a growing number of actions. Although most orchestration efforts have been made in the context of international climate negotiations, regional and national orchestration could be useful by contributing to the implementation of national commitments, and by inspiring greater ambition. We investigate whether and how regional and national orchestrators respond to shortfalls in international orchestration. Using insights from a comparative study, we provide an early indication of the catalytic potential of orchestration in Latin America, Europe, India, Argentina, and Sweden. We find considerable impacts of global level orchestration on the emergence of these initiatives, however orchestrators do not simply copy other efforts; they emphasize different catalytic linkages, including the engagement of underrepresented actors; implementation; and, the provision of ideational and material support. Catalytic linkages in a complex landscape with multiple orchestrators could sometimes be improved through coordination. Given the enormous scale of transformation needed, a focus on scale may seem natural. However, for socially just outcomes, orchestrators need to resist a sole focus on scale, and also aim at experimental and small-scale actions, which may not lead to immediate large-scale impacts but which may prove crucial in longer-term transformations.     

Does orchestration in the Global Climate Action Agenda effectively prioritize and mobilize transnational climate adaptation action?

International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics - Climate change adaptation is increasingly seen as a question that involves globally connected vulnerabilities and impacts which...     

Willing offenders outwitting capable guardians

In this article we use the situational crime prevention theory to argue that the subcultures of 1?%-MCs ?C commonly known as ??outlaw motorcycle gangs?? ?C and of trailer parks both provide willing offenders with ample opportunities to organise profitable crimes in the Netherlands. The simple fact of belonging to these groups generally is a powerful signal within the criminal subculture. Part of this message is that one must not try to challenge these capable and solid ??stand-up men??, as the risk of a violent retaliation and a loss of face will be high. This in turn will have repercussions on the person and on his business. Another part of the message is that one must not inform the authorities, as the repercussions will occur, in the sense that the group will retaliate. This applies to members from the group itself as well. Three group characteristics ?C social bonds, reputation and the culture of silence ?C make the crime entrepreneurs from trailer parks and from 1?%-MCs feared and respected actors in the underworld. Both full colour members as well as crime entrepreneurs from the trailer community tactfully use these group characteristics for the organisation of crime. These group characteristics are instrumental in the creation of a void in which there are no capable guardians, both psychosocially (e.g. situations and relations in which social factors dominate individual behaviour) as well as physically (e.g. the respective club houses and trailer parks). Another advantage is that through intimidation and reputation psychosocial barriers are erected in order to prevent effective guardianship. Behind these barriers there is a safe social environment for the organisation of profitable crimes. By increasing the visible guardianship and decreasing the reputation, the crime triangle of willing offenders from both subcultures might be weakened, as the effective manipulation of psychosocial spaces will be countered.     

Zum Eintrittsrecht des homosexuellen Lebensgefährten in den Mietvertrag

Kürzlich hat der OGH das Eintrittsrecht des homosexuellen Lebensgef?hrten in den Mietvertrag unter Berufung auf die MRK-konform vorzunehmende Auslegung des § 14 Abs 3 MRG grunds?tzlich anerkannt. Der folgende Beitrag setzt sich n?her mit der aktuellen Entscheidung unter Berücksichtigung der Vorjudikatur und des neueren Schrifttums auseinander und bezieht dazu ausführlich Stellung.     

Implementing randomized experiments in criminal justice settings: An evaluation of multi-systemic therapy in the Netherlands

This paper addresses several issues that we encountered when implementing a randomized experiment to evaluate a promising intervention for serious juvenile delinquents, multi-systemic therapy (MST). The issues overlap with issues others experienced when trying to conduct randomized experiments in clinical practice, but are complicated because MST takes place in a legal context. The complex juvenile justice system makes it difficult to come up with a simple system of randomization. Problems encountered are the complexity of the referral process in this type of intervention, legal issues and the ethical concerns raised by clinicians. Our experiences might be useful to others planning to carry out a randomized efficacy study within the juvenile justice system. Firstly, other researchers might feel supported if they realize that others experience similar problems, and, secondly, we provide some concrete suggestions concerning the following: selecting the procedures and determining the moment of randomization, dealing with and overcoming the resistance of institutions involved, maintaining the cooperation of both the institution and the sample, and keeping turnover of research staff to a minimum.     

Introduction to queer circuits: Critical performance and digital praxis

This introduction situates the articles making up this special issue within four thematic clouds, positing queer theorization as broadly relevant for critically engaging with computational technologies and culture. These sub-themes offer suggestions for future queer inquiry and praxis and reflect key terms in performance studies and queer theory that have undergone transformation with the ubiquity of digital technology.