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51. Free trade agreements and regional alliances: support from Latin American legislators

Author:
Asbel Bohigues and José Manuel Rivas
Publication Date:
12-2019
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional (RBPI)
Institution:
Instituto Brasileiro de Relações Internacionais (IBRI)
Abstract:
The creation of international organizations and the signature of free trade agreements have become common in Latin America. However, few studies have tackled the attitudes of political elites. This work aims to analyze the determinants of support by Latin American legislators for free trade agreements with the US and the EU, and for the Pacific Alliance and ALBA. Results show that ideology, pro-state/market positions, and trustworthiness vis-à-vis Chinese and Russian governments are the main predictors.
Topic:
Treaties and Agreements, Free Trade, and Elites
Political Geography:
Latin America

52. The Viewpoint of the Political Elite towards Syria from the Late Ottoman to the Early Republic: The Cases of Hüseyin Cahit Yalçın and Falih Rıfkı Atay

Author:
Ozan Kuyumcuoglu
Publication Date:
12-2019
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Uluslararasi Iliskiler
Institution:
International Relations Council of Turkey (UİK-IRCT)
Abstract:
Developments in Syria over the past eight years prompted the arguments claiming that Early Republican Turkey had turned her back to the Middle East. However, after a close consideration regarding the discourses of the political elite in Turkey, it becomes evident that Early Republican Turkey’s Middle East policy had been tending to rapprochement with Arab countries rather than avoidance of getting involved in regional issues. This article aims to scrutinize the viewpoints of the outstanding political elite of the Late Ottoman and Early Republican periods like Hüseyin Cahit Yalçın and Falih Rıfkı Atay toward Greater Syria (Bilad-al-Sham) in order to understand the historical and intellectual backgrounds of Early Republican Turkey’s Middle East policy.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, History, Elites, and Ottoman Empire
Political Geography:
Turkey, Middle East, and Syria

53. The New-Old Elites and their Relations with the EU: The Cases of Egypt and Tunisia

Author:
Cengiz Günay
Publication Date:
04-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Austrian Institute for International Affairs (OIIP)
Abstract:
Tunisia and Egypt are two countries that have experienced the fall of longstanding authoritarian leaders. Transitions in both countries then took entirely different directions. This paper deals with the question of whether and how political change in the two countries has affected their foreign policy-making towards the European Union (EU). Building on a liberal international relations (IR) perspective and elite theory, the paper focuses on the politically relevant elites (PRE). PRE shape discourses and influence decision-making processes. Building on the assumption that the composition and discourses of the PRE influence policies and positions towards the EU, the paper analyses the structure of the elites and their disputes over power resources.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Democratization, European Union, and Elites
Political Geography:
Europe, North Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, and Mediterranean

54. The Phenomenon of “Global Russia”

Author:
Emil Avdaliani
Publication Date:
12-2019
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
The Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies (BESA)
Abstract:
As Russia increases its geopolitical involvement across the globe, the concept of “Global Russia” has been gradually taking hold. Though Russia is inherently weak, it is likely that Moscow will continue its global initiatives throughout the 2020s. Only by the end of that decade and into the next is there likely to be a gradual decline in Russia’s adventurism abroad.
Topic:
International Affairs, Geopolitics, Grand Strategy, and Elites
Political Geography:
Russia, Eurasia, and Global Focus

55. The Diffusion of Protest following the 2007-2008 Global Crash

Author:
Cristina Flesher Fominaya
Publication Date:
09-2019
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Brown Journal of World Affairs
Institution:
Brown Journal of World Affairs
Abstract:
In the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, hundreds of protests spread across the world. Remarkably, despite the diversity of polities, regimes, and socioeconomic status across countries, these protests share two core demands to a varying degree: greater, more meaningful, or “real” democracy; and greater economic justice. While these are two distinct demands, they cannot be sepa- rated from each other. Although initially (and understandably) the protests were interpreted in direct relation to the global economic crash, especially in those countries hit hardest by the crisis and austerity politics, it soon became clear that the protests also reflected a crisis of representative democracy. Financial crises provoke legitimation crises when elites are perceived as having caused and benefited from them. Activists in the global wave of protests following 2008 worked to channel the grievances relating to these crises and to transform the public’s interpretive frameworks of them by contesting dominant narratives about their causes and solutions. Protesters challenged the idea that economic crises were the result of abstract, global capitalist forces and instead placed the blame squarely on economic and political elites. In so doing, they argued that the origin of the crisis was political; austerity policies were not inevitable, but rather the result of collusion between financial and political elites who not only failed to protect citizens against the worst effect of the crisis but also forced them to assume the losses of private capital speculation. While in Europe these protests can best be characterized as pro-democracy and anti-austerity, other movements such as the Arab Spring or Occupy Wall Street might better be characterized as pro-democracy and economic justice. The protests revealed an interesting paradox: despite a strong decline in trust and satisfaction with representative politics and political parties, the belief in and support for democ- racy as a value and the demand for its regeneration were core characteristics of protester demands.
Topic:
History, Social Movement, Inequality, Protests, Global Financial Crisis, and Elites
Political Geography:
Global Focus

56. Referendums in Europe: People Power or Device of the Political Elite?

Publication Date:
11-2019
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
Based on the findings of her recent book ‘The Politics of Referendum Use in European Democracies’, Dr. Saskia Hollander debates the strategic use of referendums in Europe.
Topic:
Politics, Social Movement, Referendum, and Elites
Political Geography:
Europe

57. Pakistan’s Religious Elite and Afghanistan: Antecedents

Author:
Qamar Fatima
Publication Date:
12-2018
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Journal of Political Studies
Institution:
Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab
Abstract:
Religious commonalities between Pakistan and Afghanistan are inevitable part of their relationships. So there is a need to understand the ramifications of dynamics of religious elite approach of Pakistan in order to comprehend the true nature of PakAfghan relations. Pakistan right after its creation faced a dilemma about that what role should Islam play in the Pakistani state. The Modernists were not ready to reconcile with the idea of theocracy. The conservatives with contrary position over role of religion believed that only Sharia Law should govern it. This debate stiffened with the passage of time and finally religion was followed as a consistent policy of state for defining Pakistan’s identity as Islamic state. Eventually the role of religion in Pakistan’s political system gave birth to a unique power pole, that is the priest class, the ‘Ulema’ in the capacity of leaders of religious political parties. Who, however, despite being in an ideological state, failed to secure a significant political representation in elected bodies and take an influential and meaningful share in the strata of ruling elite. However, these religious elite have always had relevance with Afghan affairs. Specifically, their role became more visible and relevancy increased owing to their proactive role during the Afghan Jihad against Soviet Union, and later during the Taliban Rule. The central question of research is why religious elite in Pakistan have always shown a proactive stance towards Afghan affairs. So this study would be analyzing the role and relevancy of Pakistan's religious elite with Pakistan – Afghanistan Relations. This research would also substantiate the current scenario of Pakistan Afghan Relations with special reference to religious elite approach.
Topic:
Religion, Taliban, Jihad, and Elites
Political Geography:
Pakistan, Afghanistan, and South Asia

58. Repensando la gobernanza y el desarrollo económico local desde Colombia: Informalidad, élites y diversidad

Author:
Sergio Montero, Tobias Franz, and Miller Choles
Publication Date:
10-2018
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Centro Interdisciplinario de Estudios sobre Desarrollo (CIDER), Universidad de los Andes
Abstract:
Durante la mayor parte del siglo XX, el contexto económico y político en Colombia ha sido caracterizado por políticas de desarrollo regional implementadas de modo jerárquico y vertical por parte del gobierno nacional. Sin embargo, durante las últimas décadas de descentralización, democratización y neoliberalización del Estado en Colombia han surgido nuevas formas de pensar cómo se gobierna y planea el desarrollo de los territorios. En este contexto, el concepto de gobernanza, basado en la idea de que las decisiones de gobierno y política pública deben hacerse a través de redes y asociaciones horizontales entre actores del gobierno, del sector privado y de la sociedad civil, se ha generalizado y expandido a gran velocidad por el país. Hoy en día, no sólo en Colombia sino en toda América Latina, difícilmente podemos encontrar unas guías sobre desarrollo territorial que no incluyan los procesos participativos, la planificación estratégica o las asociaciones público-privadas (APP) como instrumentos deseables en el diseño, planeación e implementación de políticas públicas de desarrollo económico local y regional. La idea de gobernanza es útil para ir más allá de dicotomías como Estado vs. sociedad, o público vs. privado que, por mucho tiempo, han dominado los estudios de gobierno y desarrollo. No obstante, es importante también entender cómo la mezcla de las nuevas herramientas de la gobernanza y las dinámicas institucionales propias de Colombia hace que las relaciones, supuestamente horizontales, de la gobernanza y sus beneficios para el desarrollo local no sean tan fáciles de alcanzar e implementar en la práctica.
Topic:
Governance, Partnerships, Diversity, Diversification, Economic Development, and Elites
Political Geography:
Colombia and Latin America

59. The Role of Business Elites in Sustainable Development

Author:
Julián Cárdenas
Publication Date:
01-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Postgraduate Program on Sustainable Development and Social Inequalities in the Andean Region (trAndeS)
Abstract:
Research on the conjunction of business elites and sustainable development fascinates practitioners and international organizations but faces methodological and data collection challenges within academia. Firstly, studies on corporate sustainability have promptly increased but have been extremely focused on an organizational level of analysis, which inhibits figuring out whether business decisions have an impact at the macro or societal level. Secondly, major policy recommendations on sustainable development point to the creation of networks and partnerships among business elites, governments and civil organizations but it is largely ignored which specific type of network configuration goes along with sustainable development. Thirdly, the literature on sustainable development often considered business elites as homogenous and concentrated, even though conflicting views exist regarding aspects of sustainable development. Finally, the influence of business elites on environmental, social and economic policies has been more supposed than empirically demonstrated. Past research has been unable to overcome these challenges in part due to insufficient data clarifying the full breadth of business elite connections with political and civil organizations nationally and transnationally, and the lack of a combination of analytical tools for analyzing multilevel characteristics and actions. The present paper proposes a research agenda to comprehend the role of business elites in sustainable development. Future studies should use network analysis as leverage, uncover the networks among business and political elites, focus on Latin American economies and regions, bypass case studies and develop cross-national and transnational analysis, and turn to a combination of causal methods.
Topic:
Sustainable Development Goals, Research, Business, Elites, and Network Analysis
Political Geography:
Latin America

60. Soap Operas and Socialism: Dissecting Kim Jong-un’s Evolving Policy Priorities through TV Dramas in North Korea

Author:
Jean Lee
Publication Date:
11-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI)
Abstract:
Romance, humor, tension — everyone loves a good sitcom, even North Koreans. But in North Korea, TV dramas are more than mere entertainment. They play a crucial political role by serving as a key messenger of party and government policy. They aim to shape social and cultural mores in North Korean society. And in the Kim Jong-un era, they act as an advertisement for the “good life” promised to the political elite. Through TV dramas, the North Korean people learn what the regime says constitutes being a good citizen in Kim Jong-un’s North Korea today: showing loyalty to the party, using science and technology to advance national interests, thinking creatively in problem-solving, and facing the nation’s continued economic hardships with a positive attitude. The soaps and sitcoms reveal a shift in social priorities: Viewers are encouraged to put their families first, to nurture and elevate the next generation, and to be bold in thinking outside the box rather than settling for the status quo. These contrast with themes popular in films made during the Kim Jong-il era, which emphasized putting the state before family, the military above the party, and conformism over originality. The props in today’s dramas, including laptops, drones, fashionable clothes, and gold wristwatches, are prominently positioned in such settings as elevators, computer labs, and newly built high-rise apartment buildings. These consumer products are the arsenal of the new generation of Kim Jong-un elites — not the tanks and rifles of his father’s era of filmmaking.
Topic:
Media, Kim Jong-un, and Elites
Political Geography:
South Korea, North Korea, and Korea