Number of results to display per page
Search Results
12. Democratic Civilian Control over the Security Sector: Comparative Legal Documents
- Author:
- Philipp H. Fluri and Valentyn Badrack
- Publication Date:
- 04-2016
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Razumkov Centre
- Abstract:
- This publication provides a broad range of examples of national legislation as well as international conventions and instruments related to the democratic oversight of the security sector. The product is designed for stakeholders’ easy reference, be they civil society, democratic institutions, government or the security sector itself. Examples are supplied from, among others, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Norway, Poland and Switzerland.
- Topic:
- Security, Democracy, Legislation, and Institutions
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Ukraine, Canada, Norway, France, Poland, Bulgaria, and Switzerland
13. Human Rights before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall
- Author:
- Günter Nooke
- Publication Date:
- 11-2016
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL)
- Abstract:
- Nowadays we certainly cannot take it for granted that our understanding of human rights is accepted throughout the world. On the contrary, that understanding is much more at risk than it was 20 or 30 years ago. This is all the more true when hardly anyone dares to openly address this issue. But the basic approach is actually quite simple: successful human rights policy is about translating a fantastic idea into reality. This idea applies to everyone, regardless of whether they were born in Germany or Switzerland or in China, Zimbabwe, Cuba or North Korea. The political art of human rights policy consists of placing the individual at the heart of all efforts, while at the same time taking into account traditions, culture and religion. This is often particularly difficult when persuasive arguments are put forward by those who consciously disregard human rights for the sake of shoring up their own power.
- Topic:
- Human Rights and Democracy
- Political Geography:
- China, North Korea, Germany, Cuba, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe
14. Analyzing the field of security in Switzerland: Towards a hypertrophy of internal security and some methodological remarks | Analyse du champ de la sécurité en Suisse : vers une hypertrophie de la sécurité intérieure et autres réflexions méthodologiques
- Author:
- Stephan Davidshofer, Amal Tawfik, and Tobias Hagmann
- Publication Date:
- 06-2016
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Cultures & Conflits
- Institution:
- Cultures & Conflits
- Abstract:
- Investigating the possible emergence of a transnational field of security in Europe constitutes a very stimulating research venue for literature on critical approaches to security. However, the operationalization of such an agenda entails some challenges. Notably, time-consuming data collection and analytical processes are needed in order to fully grasp the characteristics and resources of numerous actors. Drawing on a research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), the aim of this paper is double. It offers both an analysis of the contemporary dynamics of the field of security in Switzerland and a presentation of practical solutions for researchers willing to conduct empirically-oriented studies of different settings of the transnational field of security in Europe. In order to do so, this contribution stands as a methodological roadmap, presenting the various steps leading to the construction of a national social space dedicated to “security issues”. Given the significant volume of data collected in this research project, a series of statistical analysis methods are mobilized in this paper: multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and network analysis. Lastly, in summarizing the project’s results, the paper points to the growing influence of transnational security dynamics on Swiss security actors.
- Topic:
- National Security, Statistics, and Methods
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Switzerland
15. The Resilient Trade Surplus, the Pharmaceutical Sector, and Exchange Rate Assessments in Switzerland
- Author:
- Philip Saure
- Publication Date:
- 07-2015
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Peterson Institute for International Economics
- Abstract:
- With its cost- and time-intensive research and development, the pharmaceutical sector can generate large trade imbalances. These imbalances may arise because investment and output occur in different years; they are sizable if pharmaceuticals account for a large and growing share of exports. Switzerland's recent trade surplus results from this effect, which also explains why the Swiss trade surplus is exceptionally resilient. The Swiss trade surplus is, therefore, a poor indicator for exchange rate assessments.
- Topic:
- Foreign Exchange, Health, International Trade and Finance, and Markets
- Political Geography:
- Switzerland
16. Engaging the Swiss on Apprenticeships: Economic Diplomacy with Results Back Home
- Author:
- Susan G. LeVine
- Publication Date:
- 09-2015
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- The Ambassador's Review
- Institution:
- Council of American Ambassadors
- Abstract:
- One of the core priorities for the State Department and for the Obama administration overall is shared prosperity because, as Secretary Kerry frequently points out, “Economic policy is foreign policy.” The United States firmly believes that, by growing bilateral economic ties, the United States as well as the host country will prosper. The metrics around our economic relationship with Switzerland are a perfect example of that: Switzerland is one of the top ten foreign direct investors in the United States and number one in research and development; the United States has been the largest growth market for Swiss exports over the past five years; and Swiss companies generate almost half a million jobs in the United States—really great jobs with an average salary of $100,000 per year. With those ties in mind, I set out to meet with Swiss companies of all kinds to understand how they do business in Switzerland and how to deepen their investment in the United States. What I learned in the course of that exploration will, I believe, profoundly and positively affect both countries economically, and also have a positive effect on the world.
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Economics, Economic Cooperation, and Job Creation
- Political Geography:
- United States, Europe, Switzerland, and North America
17. Estimating Illicit Flows of Capital via Trade Mispricing: A Forensic Analysis of Data on Switzerland
- Author:
- Alex Cobham, Petr Janský, and Alex Prats
- Publication Date:
- 01-2014
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Center for Global Development
- Abstract:
- This paper assesses the role of Switzerland as the leading hub for global commodities trading, in terms of the patterns of prices received by original exporting countries and subsequently by Switzerland and other jurisdictions. We find support for the hypotheses that (i) the average prices for commodity exports from developing countries to Switzerland are lower than those to other jurisdictions; and that (ii) Switzerland declares higher (re-)export prices for those commodities than do other jurisdictions. This pattern implies a potential capital loss for commodity exporting developing countries and we provide a range of estimates of that loss – each of which suggests the scale is substantial (the most conservative is around $8 billion a year) and that the issue merits greater research and policy attention. An important first step would be a Swiss commitment to meet international norms of trade transparency.
- Topic:
- United Nations
- Political Geography:
- Switzerland
18. Estimating Illicit Flows of Capital via Trade Mispricing: A Forensic Analysis of Data on Switzerland
- Author:
- Alex Cobham, Petr Janský, and Alex Prats
- Publication Date:
- 01-2014
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Center for Global Development
- Abstract:
- This paper assesses the role of Switzerland as the leading hub for global commodities trading, in terms of the patterns of prices received by original exporting countries and subsequently by Switzerland and other jurisdictions. We find support for the hypotheses that (i) the average prices for commodity exports from developing countries to Switzerland are lower than those to other jurisdictions; and that (ii) Switzerland declares higher (re-)export prices for those commodities than do other jurisdictions. This pattern implies a potential capital loss for commodity exporting developing countries and we provide a range of estimates of that loss - each of which suggests the scale is substantial (the most conservative is around $8 billion a year) and that the issue merits greater research and policy attention. An important first step would be a Swiss commitment to meet international norms of trade transparency.
- Topic:
- Economics, Industrial Policy, International Trade and Finance, Markets, and Developing World
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Switzerland
19. Avoiding Assad's Forced Solution to the Syria Crisis
- Author:
- Andrew J. Tabler
- Publication Date:
- 01-2014
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
- Abstract:
- Given that Assad and his backers want to gut the transition process called for in the Geneva Communique, Washington should plan to take other steps in parallel to the Geneva process.
- Topic:
- Humanitarian Aid, International Cooperation, Armed Struggle, and Authoritarianism
- Political Geography:
- Geneva, Britain, United States, Iran, Washington, Turkey, Middle East, France, London, Germany, Saudi Arabia, United Nations, Italy, Syria, Switzerland, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates
20. Alternatives to Currency Manipulation: What Switzerland, Singapore, and Hong Kong Can Do
- Author:
- Joseph E. Gagnon
- Publication Date:
- 06-2014
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Peterson Institute for International Economics
- Abstract:
- For the major advanced economies and the world as a whole, insufficient aggregate demand—that is, too little spending—impeded recovery from the Great Recession of 2008-09. By manipulating their currencies to boost their net exports, many countries made a bad situation worse for their trading partners, which saw demand shifted away. The world needs policies that increase total demand rather than policies that fight over the allocation of the existing amount of demand.
- Topic:
- Economics, International Trade and Finance, and International Monetary Fund
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Asia, Switzerland, and Singapore