Some New Cross-National Evidence
Arno Tausch*
Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, Vol. 9, No. 1, Spring 2010
Abstract
The current paper investigates the cross-national relevance of dependency theory and world systems theory for eight dimensions of development. The main emphasis is on indicators of sustainable development, and our essay comprises in all 36 main dependent variables. They are part of the dimensions of democracy, gender justice, high quality tertiary education, economic growth during the outgone economic cycle until 2008 and projected economic growth after 2009, the environment, human development, employment, and social cohesion on a global scale by a new. Our 175 nation analysis, using 20 main predictors of development tries to confront the very basic pro-globalist assumptions of the “Lisbon process”, the policy target of the European leaders since the EU’s Lisbon Council meeting in March 2000 to make Europe the leading knowledge-based economy in the world with a “globalization critical perspective”. A realistic and politically useful analysis of the “Lisbon process” has to be a “Schumpeterian” approach. We analyze the “Lisbon performance” of the world economy by multivariate, quantitative means, looking into the possible contradictions that might exists between the dependent insertion into the global economy and other goals of the “Lisbon process”. Read more
A Treatise ON THE ORIGIN AND SPONTANEOUS DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETY
Lester F. Ward
From the PREFACE
I make no claim to priority in the use of the term pure sociology. It is but natural that those who regard sociology as a science should divide the science, as other sciences are divided, into the two natural departments, pure and applied. But as the term „pure sociology“ has been freely used for several years by certain European sociologists, it seems proper to explain that the matter for this work has been accumulating in my hands for many years. I should perhaps rather say that sociological material has been long pouring in upon me, and that the first classification that was made of it was into such as related to the origin, nature, and genetic or spontaneous development of society, and such as related to means and methods for the artificial improvement of social conditions on the part of man and society as conscious and intelligent agents. The first of these classes I naturally called pure sociology, the second, applied sociology. Read more
By Shaadaab S. Bakht The Gulf Today Why aren’t many talking about the brilliant Cannes awardee Mahamat-Saleh Haroun? He is from Chad. And there’s a serious temptation to believe that could be the reason. If anything that divides man after money, it’s colour. Colour speaks, colour creates, colour rules, in that order. The blackness of [...]
By Aysha Taryam Editor-in-Chief: The Gulf Today AFTER months of planning and preparation the Gaza Freedom Flotilla consisting of six ships boarded by 700 brave volunteers set sail last Sunday night carrying aid for the 1.5 million besieged people in Gaza. Bravely attempting to sail through and peacefully penetrate the Israeli blockade was their mission. [...]
By Aysha Taryam Editor-in-Chief : The Gulf Today The trailer to the much-anticipated sequel of Sex and the City has dropped and the girls’ next adventure unfolds in no other place but our capital Abu Dhabi. The trailer shows Carrie and the gang whisked away from New York City for an all-expenses paid week in [...]
Bruce Maddy-Weitzman* The Middle East Review of International Affairs This article reviews three possible regime scenarios for the three principle Maghreb countries of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The three scenarios include: the Islamization of the political sphere, the continuation of the authoritarian status quo, and accelerated evolution towards democracy. INTRODUCTION Ever since the days of the Greek and Roman Empires, northwest Africa has been a well-defined region–geographically, demographically, culturally, and historically. The Muslim conquest in the late seventh century A.D., followed by the region’s complete Islamization and partial Arabization, inextricably linked the area to the East; but it did not erase its own particularity, even in the eyes of their now-fellow Muslims.[1] Just as the “Middle East” is a concept that was formulated by Europeans looking eastwards, the “Maghreb” (“West”) was a concept formulated by Muslims sitting at the center of the classical Islamic civilizations determining a definable “Other,” albeit an Islamic one. The French-colonial experience, which began in the 19th century, added an additional important layer to the Maghreb’s uniqueness. (Italy’s occupation of modern-day Libya is a separate story.) The Maghreb states, particularly the “core” countries of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, currently face similar political, socio-economic, and cultural challenges: [...]
By Mahmoud Abbas RAMALLAH – Negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis have resumed after a year and a half of a stalemate that began after Israel launched its devastating military assault against the Gaza Strip in December 2008. The resumption of negotiations came as a result of concerted and persistent efforts by the US administration and by President Barack Obama in particular, together with extensive Palestinian, Arab and international support. This round of negotiations provides an 11th-hour opportunity to achieve a permanent and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. For the opportunity not to be lost, courage and bold leadership are required. Despite the harsh realities imposed upon us, the Palestinian side intends to negotiate in good faith in order to end the state of conflict that has plagued our region for so long. Achieving peace and coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis has been my lifelong commitment. I came to believe from an early stage that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict cannot be resolved without dialogue. This vision has guided my political thinking and work for the last 35 years. I was the first among Palestinian leaders to establish and encourage dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis as early as the 1970s. These [...]
Colour grunts