The effects of convergence: internationalization and the changing distribution of net value added in large German firms

The paper examines whether and how the increasing internationalization of firms impacts on the operation of a co-ordinated market economy. Following the tenets of agency theory, it assumes that an emerging market for corporate control changes the monitoring mechanisms that oversee management. Since Anglo-American forms of monitoring are usually associated with a higher return for investors compared with Continental European firms, a change in the distribution of the net value added of firms is expected. Using financial data on fifty-nine large German companies, the paper shows that the emerging convergence of German corporate governance practices to Anglo-American standards has had a weak, but significant, impact on the distribution of net value added. This is in contrast to the impact of the internationalization of firms on product markets, which does not have an effect. Since the market for corporate control is, however, still underdeveloped in Germany, the main effects remain to be seen.     

The Use of Indirection in Televised Political Debates

ABSTRACT

We examine the use of indirection in the three televised debates between George Bush and Al Gore during the 2000 American presidential race. Indirection is a discursive process that enables a speaker to perform a nonliteral “primary” speech act by performing a literal “secondary” speech act. Eight mechanisms of indirection are characterized and explained using examples from the debates. Their occurrence in the debates is also analyzed. The indirection used most often saw the speaker promising to perform an action by expressing his intention to do so. A comparison is made between the American debates and Canadian and Quebec debates. Also questioned is the persuasive effect of indirection in political communication and its potential for strategists and for future research in light of the presented results.     

Political Advertising in Greek Municipal and Prefecture Elections of 2002

Abstract

Since the restoration of democracy in 1974, Greek politics have undergone a serious transformation, exemplified by the increase in political participation that strongly affected political advertising at the national and local level. The major claim of the paper is that political campaigns in major cities in Greece are “modern” while in the periphery of the country political campaigning is based more upon direct forms of interpersonal relations. Our claim is based upon an examination of the role of political advertising in the major metropolitan city of Thessaloniki (around 1.000.000 inhabitants), and the semi-peripheral city of Kastoria (around 17.000 inhabitants), both situated in Northern Greece. The primary objective of this study is to establish a strong factual foundation that can be used by policy makers, opinion leaders, and citizens in order to understand the role of political advertising in national and municipal elections in Greece.     

Commentary on Erik Amnå: Democracy and Civil Society

Abstract

This article seeks to provide insight into the formulation of non-governmental organization (NGO) and transnational advocacy network (TAN) campaign strategy. We argue that the history of previous campaigns comprises an important aspect of the political opportunity structure faced by NGOs and TANs. We also argue that when formulating campaign strategy, campaigners should not only consider the legacies of previous campaigns, but also how their current strategies could impact on political opportunity structure and thereby influence future campaigns. This article uses the case study of the movement against seal hunting in Atlantic and Northern Canada and considers the potential for collaboration between previous opponents on other environmental issues. We examine the history of the anti-sealing campaigns looking at the various actors involved, and the impact that these campaigns had on these actors and their current relations with one another. The case study demonstrates that the history of previous campaigns matters and that history is a vital component of political opportunity structure.     

全球化时代的海外政治经济风险评估

目前,政治经济风险已成为海外投资和国家经济安全领域中的一个重要因素。由于全球化进程的不断深入和拓展,当一国遭遇政治经济风险时,往往产生连锁反应,给其他国家的国家利益带来风险。因此,对海外政治经济风险的评估和预测显得非常重要。国外的一些专门从事风险评估的机构,在这方面有较透彻的、持续的研究成果。本文着重介绍和分析国外一些著名的风险评估公司及其研究评估体系,并在此基础上提出对我国加强海外风险评估的若干看法。     

人权的本性与价值位阶

只讲人权的阶级性 ,否认普遍性 ;只考虑“多数人的人权”而忽视“少数人的人权” ;片面强调“主权高于人权”、“集体人权高于个体人权” ;或只讲“生存权是首要人权” ,忽视政治人权居先的价值地位 ,这些观点都有失偏颇。人权是自然性与社会性、阶级性与普遍性的统一 ,抽象地强调“主权高于人权” ,有可能为以“主权压人权”的专制政权提供理论支持。当今中国的首要人权应是政治人权。     

Public Trust in (or Cynicism about) Other Nations across Time

This study uses survey data from 1994 and 1999 to examine the nature, causes, and consequences of Americans generalized beliefs about other nations during the decade prior to September 11, 2001—a relatively sedate era in international relations compared to the Cold War and post-September 11 periods. As was the case after the terrorist attacks, relatively few citizens expressed high levels of trust in other nations; more did in 1999 than in 1994, however. Partisanship, beliefs about government, age, and education were related to trust in other nations at the individual level, with some of these relationships varying over time. Trust in other nations, in turn, was related to preferences for diplomacy and support for military interventions. The strength of the former relationship varied over time, whereas the nature of the latter relationship depended on the nature of the intervention in question. The findings raise the question of why so few Americans trust other nations not only during periods of external threat but also during quieter times.     

关于建设社会主义政治文明的思考

发展社会主义民主政治,建设社会主义政治文明是党在社会主义初级阶段基本路线的坚持和发展,是全面建设小康社会的需求;党中央强调社会主义政治文明建设,提出"三个文明"要协调发展,既是对社会主义发展的规律性认识,也是对社会主义国家执政党建设的规律性认识;建设社会主义政治文明首先要加强社会主义政治制度文明建设。     

信念转型:列宁面对的历史考察及其启示

本文通过对列宁时期苏俄社会主义信念转型的历史考察 ,力图总结出社会信念转型期信念建设的一般规律。文章在分析后指出 ,社会主义信念转型是客观的规律 ;而信念的理论转型和实践转型 ,是社会主义信念转型的两个基础性前提 ;在前提具备条件下 ,积极有效的信念建设措施是巩固信念的手段选择 ,而“三个代表”思想也正是巩固社会主义建设信念的战略举措。