International Relations

This paper focuses on origins of dynamic capabilities in multinational corporations (MNCs). Building on literature in the area of organizational memory and organizational learning, we investigate factors that contribute to subsidiaries of MNCs ability to detach themselves from obsolete knowledge and practices. To construct the theoretical framework, 11 extensive interviews with marketing and sales executives from three pharmaceutical MNCs operated in Iran were conducted. We test our hypotheses using statistical quantitative analysis of data related to 459 observations from subsidiaries of 51 pharmaceutical MNCs during years 2005-2009. We examine the quality of corrective actions taken by subsidiaries of pharmaceutical MNCs subsequent to subsidiaries failing to meet expected performance objectives. Our findings confirm a moderating role for internationalization, span, and the composition of human resources on the quality of corrective actions pursued.

Dans la nuit du 13 au 14 avril 2018, une coalition internationale formée par les États-Unis, la France et la Grande-Bretagne a mené des opérations militaires visant à détruire l’arsenal chimique clandestin du régime syrien. Déclenchée en réaction aux allégations d’usage d’armes chimiques par les forces du régime syrien, cette opération n’a pas manqué de diviser le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies. Si les États intervenants, notamment la France et la Grande-Bretagne, ont mobilisé tant des arguments légaux que moraux pour justifier ces frappes, il n’en demeure pas moins que la légalité autant que la légitimité de l’opération posent problème. Cet article montre que si l’opération menée en Syrie est entachée d’irrégularité dans sa légalité externe, sa légitimité est tout aussi à relativiser au regard de sa légalité interne, et ce, en raison de l’antériorité des frappes armées à la vérification matérielle des faits.

In 2016, filmmaker Larry Asakawa and dancer/media artist Jhalak Kara Miller collaborated in Hawai‘i to create a video dance installation and performance called Habitat. Asakawa and Miller, conceived and then subsequently joined with other artists to produce a performance score for the installation, based on solo dances and video recordings that each undertook, produced, and filmed. Habitat explored the interconnections among humans and marine mammals as they relate to the controversial sonar testing activities in Pacific waters. The Habitat performance modalities included visual media, sound, and movement as tools for an embodiment process that might offer human communities a deeper awareness and understanding of the body in a holistic ecosystem. Somatic disciplines that include meditation and dance offer theoretical paradigms to understand the body as a site of knowledge production. Throughout the creative process, the artists ask how personal experiences in these marine habitats m...

One of the main issues in international relations today is about the security of (natural) resources. Water is now increasingly viewed as one of strategic resource that has to be secured. In this context, water security and international relations are often intertwined. It can lead to either interstate cooperation and even conflict. This paper discusses the importance of water management in the Mekong river. This river flows from China, to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and ends in Vietnam. Mekong river is also one of the world’s greatest and resource rivers. This paper argues that the water security management in the Mekong River is not only crucial for the above countries but it is also playing a very significant role in the regional stability in Southeast Asia.

The research report examines the scope and impact of German Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, focusing on the “networked approach” during NATO operations. The report also delves into the genealogy of ODA in neoliberal development policy, highlighting its role in uneven development and dependency. It discusses Germany’s institution-building and funding priorities in Afghanistan, notably how they related to domestic issues such as refugee inflows and labor migration. It examines Germany’s financial involvement in the so-called "peace process," from the Bonn Agreement in 2001 to negotiations with the Taliban. It concludes by assessing Germany’s continued involvement in post-2021 Afghanistan in the form of humanitarian assistance.

Key Report Highlights

1. Militarization of Afghan life: the report shows how ODA was implemented in a militarized environment blurring the line between military and development projects.

2. Institution-building: the study uncovers how the German ODA funding logic in Afghanistan engendered the incorporation of Afghanistan in the multilateral system of capitalist development, while simultaneously creating systemic dependencies.

3. Monitoring and Evaluating ODA: based on interviews the report reveals the closed-loop system of overseeing ODA-funded projects through “monitoring and evaluation” (M&E) tools, that are not geared towards critically questioning indicators of “successes” and “failures.”

Download: https://rosalux-geneva.org/german-oda-in-afghanistan/

tion mondiale du commerce (OMC), les « accords commerciaux régionaux » (ACR) sont définis comme des accords commerciaux réciproques conclus entre au moins deux pays ou territoires douaniers. Ils incluent les accords de libre-échange et les unions douanières. Néanmoins, le terme est trompeur car, dans la réalité, ces accords ne sont pas toujours « régionaux » et de moins en moins souvent limités aux politiques commerciales. De plus, ces accords sont « préférentiels » en ce sens qu’ils réservent des avantages commerciaux aux signataires du traité commercial, et peuvent donc être confondus avec les « accords commerciaux préférentiels » qui, dans la terminologie de l’OMC, ne concernent que les accords aux avantages non réciproques : certains pays s’ouvrent au partenaire, d’autres non (encadré 1). Un des faits majeurs de ces vingt dernières années est la prolifération des ACR : ils sont plus nombreux, représentent une part croissante du commerce mondial et intègrent de nouveaux sujets. C...

Colombia es un país de desarrollo intermedio que enfrenta dos grandes retos, por una parte, la globalización y, por la otra, la modernización de su modelo económico; por eso, los autores desde sus investigaciones plantean diferentes maneras de enfrentar estos retos. En sus manos tiene un libro que promueve desde diferentes miradas la innovación de la ciencia económica en torno al análisis de temas como la productividad, la diversificación de los sectores económicos, los mercados internacionales y el fortalecimiento de la productividad y la competitividad de nuestro país. Estos seis capítulos constituyen un trabajo importante en el campo de la investigación que analiza e interpreta los problemas actuales de la economía colombiana y cuyas propuestas se establecen a partir del Desarrollo Económico Local (DEL). Cuando se habla de este modelo de desarrollo, intrínsecamente se trabaja la inserción a los mercados mundiales y por ende la competitividad; sin embargo, su implementación abarca...

Paul Apostolidis, Lucia Rafanelli, and Inder Marwah critically engage with Valdez's 2019 book Transnational Cosmopolitanism: Kant, Du Bois, and Justice as a Political Craft. They focus in particular on the interlocutors of the project and the stakes of the joint reading of Kant and Du Bois, as well as the distinction between politics and morality. Valdez replies.

This book seeks to launch a new research agenda for the historiography of Dutch foreign relations during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It does so in two important ways. First, it broadens the analytical perspective to include a variety of non-state actors beyond politicians and diplomats. Second, it focuses on the transnational connections that shaped the foreign relations of the Netherlands, emphasizing the effects of (post-) colonialism and internationalism. Furthermore, this essay collection highlights not only the key roles played by Dutch actors on the international scene, but also serves as an important point of comparison for the activities of their counterparts in other small states.

The South African War (1899-1902) caused a stir in the Netherlands. The Dutch public overwhelmingly supported the Boers in their struggle against the British. To support the ‘kinsmen’ in South Africa several organisations in the Netherlands embarked on an international propaganda campaign. This article considers the involvement of Dutch journalists in the pro-Boer agitation. They were confronted with a dilemma because as a small country the Netherlands officially was neutral and did not possess strong international lines of communications, which made it difficult to distribute information in other countries. This problem raised moral and practical questions about the Dutch press and its position in the world. Using concepts from the historiography on the media of the British Empire, Kuitenbrouwer analyses the Dutch press system around 1900. This article is part of the special issue 'A New Dutch Imperial History'.

In an era marked by remarkable technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful force in the realm of International Relations. AI's adaptability, which includes automating the processes of foreign policy-making and improving predictive analytics, is swiftly reshaping the ways in which countries participate in international affairs. The impact of AI is notably observed in activities like data analysis, policy assessment, conflict resolution, cybersecurity, language translation, and disaster response, all of which streamline diplomatic activities and enhance communication. This article discusses how AI technology will shape the field of International Relations.