The EU–South Africa Strategic Partnership: Waning affection,persisting economic interests

ABSTRACT

Ten years after the coming into force of the EU–South Africa Strategic Partnership, this article takes stock of this partnership. Our aim, within this special issue, is to assess the EU’s perspective on its strategic partnership with South Africa, and in particular to look at economic and development cooperation within the partnership and to what extent European expectations of closer engagement have been met. Our analysis shows that economic interests have remained central to bilateral relations and the strategic partnership, even if some potential for economic engagement has remained unexploited. At the same time, the relationship has been quite tense in recent years, as bilateral ‘affection’ at the political level has waned. The implications for the partnership are weighed.     

Economic,trade and development relations between South Africa and the European Union: The end of a strategic partnership? A South African perspective

ABSTRACT

The relationship between democratic South Africa and the European Union (EU) has been in existence for over 20 years, with its roots tracing back to anti-apartheid support measures. In its earlier form, it was anchored in the Reconstruction and Development Programme. Currently, it is guided by the National Development Plan of the National Planning Commission. This relationship has been tested over time, especially as a result of negotiations over the Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU. In the meantime, the euphoria that marked new South Africa's participation in the global system, with trade and development cooperation with the EU as one of the cornerstones, has waned considerably. The cancellation of several bilateral investment treaties with EU member states has further strained the relationship. While there are notable successes in the EU–South Africa Strategic Partnership, these may not be reflective of the actual strategic value of the partnership in the context of global shifts and the rising influence of emerging powers with which South Africa is integrating.     

Where Science Comes to Life: University Bioscience, Commercial Spin-offs, and Regional Economic Development

Biotechnology, rather than being defined as a distinct industry like steelmaking or shipbuilding, is instead a scientific knowledge base—a rapidly evolving technology—that has economically valuable applications in such diverse industries as pharmaceuticals, medical diagnostics, agriculture, bioenvironmental remediation, and chemical processing. Biotechnology has captured the imagination of ambitious scientific investigators and investors seeking high rates of return, as well as state economic development officials who hope to anchor the industry in their locality and reap the industry's economic and employment rewards. Biotech is still at an early stage of its development, and there are many competing hypotheses about its future development. Most importantly, biotechnology involves the commercialization of science resources in which the federal and state governments have made substantial investment. One key question is how to leverage this investment for future economic growth. This article explores the policy issue related to the commercialization of biotechnology, its role as an engine of economic development, and the appropriate public policy response.     

从求强、求富到人的现代化——中国现代化50年发展战略的反思

毛泽东时代 ,要使新中国在不利的国际环境下立足 ,国家现代化发展目标首先是求强 ;邓小平时代 ,则以求富为国家现代化的发展目标 ,开创出了改革开放的大局面 ;后邓小平时代 ,面临世界经济一体化和新一轮新技术革命的挑战 ,国家的现代化目标是“以人为本”的社会全面均衡发展 ,这是需要几代人共同努力的事业     

历史哲学的现代发展——从马克思到邓小平

:邓小平建设有中国特色社会主义的哲学基础是马克思主义历史哲学。马克思关于东方社会发展道路的理论 ,与邓小平“什么是社会主义 ,怎样建设社会主义”思想的提出 ,有着历史的内在联系 ,两者的理论前提就是科学的历史哲学     

从“晋江模式”看地方文化在经济发展中的作用

本从化发生学的角度,分析“晋江模式”是如何在大传统与小传统的共同作用下形成的,以此透视化与经济发展模式之间的关系。“大传统”是指一系列改革开放政策所形成的制度环境,“小传统”是指在特殊历史条件下和地理环境中形成的晋江地方性化。由于存在晋江地方性化的“小传统”,才会在统一的“大传统”下,形成具有地方特色的晋江经济发展模式。     

加入工会能提高产业工人技能水平吗？ ——来自大连市产业工人调查数据的经验证据

产业工人技能水平能否更好地匹配产业发展的方向,实现技能劳动力的供求动态平衡,关系到 能否为产业转型升级和经济高质量发展提供人力资本支撑。工会组织通过推进职工素质建设工程、开展劳动技 能竞赛和群众性技术创新活动等,在提升产业工人技能水平方面发挥着重要作用。本研究基于大连市产业工人 的微观调查数据,发现加入工会显著促进了产业工人技能水平的提升,且对制造业产业工人的影响更显著。机 制检验发现,工会通过开展职业培训提升了产业工人技能水平。研究建议：在实践中应充分利用工会资源为产 业工人提供形式多样的职业培训;完善产业工人技能评价方式;加强与职业院校合作,推动多层次多样化的职 业教育资源服务于产业工人技能提升。     

新闻网站可持续发展的盈利模式探讨

针对我国新闻网站普遍面临的有社会效益而无经济效益的生存困境,文章提出了我国新闻网站可持续发展的六大盈利模式,并分析了各自的利弊,提出了相应可持续发展的策略。     

社会主义和谐社会:科学发展观的目标指向

以人为本是科学发展观的本质和核心,坚持以人为本,是破解当代中国经济社会发展难题的钥匙。树立和落实科学发展观旨在构建社会主义和谐社会,构建社会主义和谐社会必须坚持以人为本的理念。     

江泽民关于人的全面发展理论研究综述

江泽民关于人的全面发展理论是学术界关注的一个热点问题。学术界广泛深入地研究了江泽民人的全面发展的内涵、实现的方式以及该理论对马克思主义人的全面发展理论的重大理论创新,并形成了一定的共识,但也有较多分歧。