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1621. The Obama Administration and Iran: Towards a Constructive Dialogue

Author:
Ramin Jahanbegloo
Publication Date:
06-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Centre for International Governance Innovation
Abstract:
For much of the last 30 years, official relations between the United States and Iran have been strained. The most visible indication of this was US President George W. Bush's labeling of Iran as a member of the "axis of evil" in 2002. Breaking with the past, the new US administration is taking a more conciliatory tone. President Barack Obama has demonstrated that Washington is willing to open the lines of communication with Iran. This paper seeks to locate the Obama administration's efforts within the history of US-Iranian relations while also highlighting the contemporary issues that would inform a constructive dialogue, such as the upcoming Iranian presidential elections. Improved dialogue between the two countries could help to improve the situations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, demonstrating how overlapping areas of interest may provide a new path for US-Iran relations.
Topic:
Diplomacy, International Affairs, and Bilateral Relations
Political Geography:
United States, Iran, and Washington

1622. Evaluating and Comparing the Innovative Performance of the United States and the European Union

Author:
Malgorzata Runiewicz-Wardyn
Publication Date:
09-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
Abstract:
There are significant differences in the innovative capacities between the economies of the United States and European Union. The US was able to gain and maintain technological leadership, whereas most of the EU member states (with the exception of some Scandinavian economies) still lag behind in the competitiveness and innovation rankings.
Topic:
Economics and International Affairs
Political Geography:
United States and Europe

1623. Justice in Times of Transition: Lessons from the Iberian Experience

Author:
Omar G. Encarnación
Publication Date:
10-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
Abstract:
A key contention of the transitional justice movement is that the more comprehensive and vigorous the effort to bring justice to a departed authoritarian regime the better the democratizing outcome will be. This essay challenges this view with empirical evidence from the Iberian Peninsula. In Portugal, a sweeping policy of purges intended to cleanse the state and society of the authoritarian past nearly derailed the transition to democracy by descending into a veritable witch-hunt. In Spain, by contrast, letting bygones be bygones, became a foundation for democratic consolidation. These counter-intuitive examples suggest that there is no pre-ordained outcome to transitional justice, and that confronting an evil past is neither a requirement nor a pre-condition for democratization. This is primarily because the principal factors driving the impulse toward justice against the old regime are political rather than ethical or moral. In Portugal, the rise of transitional justice mirrored the anarchic politics of the revolution that lunched the transition to democracy. In Spain, the absence of transitional justice reflected the pragmatism of a democratic transition anchored on compromise and consensus.
Topic:
Human Rights, Politics, International Affairs, and Law
Political Geography:
Europe, Spain, Portugal, and Iberia Peninsula

1624. Transparency International Annual Report 2008

Publication Date:
07-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Transparency International
Abstract:
Strong political parties that can compete for power in fair elections are essential to modern democracies. Political parties need resources for building solid organisations and canvassing public support, yet large donations have the potential to compromise the independence of elected officials, undermining democratic values and good governance. Laws and regulations cannot always prevent the undue influence of money and private interests in politics. Transparency is essential.
Topic:
Corruption, Non-Governmental Organization, International Affairs, and Governance

1625. Transparency in Reporting on Anti-Corruption: A Report on Corporate Practices

Publication Date:
03-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Transparency International
Abstract:
Bribery and corruption remain endemic problems in many countries, weakening governance and posing a major impediment to development. At the same time, bribery and corruption are a significant risk for companies around the world: not only must companies comply with anti-bribery legislation, but corrupt company practices are increasingly scrutinised and punished by both investors and society at large who demand that companies behave as responsible corporate citizens. To ensure compliance with laws and to manage the broader risk of corruption, firms must adopt coherent policies and systems to prevent and redress bribery and corruption.
Topic:
Corruption, International Trade and Finance, International Affairs, Governance, and Peacekeeping

1626. Business Principles for Countering Bribery: A Multi-Stakeholders Initiative Led by Transparency International

Publication Date:
02-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Transparency International
Abstract:
The Business Principles for Countering Bribery were originally developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder process involving companies, non-governmental organisations and trade unions as a tool to assist enterprises to develop effective approaches to countering bribery in all of their activities.
Topic:
Corruption, International Trade and Finance, International Affairs, and Governance

1627. Global Corruption Barometer 2009

Author:
Juanita Riaño
Publication Date:
05-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Transparency International
Abstract:
Transparency International's (TI) 2009 Global Corruption Barometer (the Barometer) presents the main findings of a public opinion survey that explores the general public's views of corruption, as well as experiences of bribery around the world. It assesses the extent to which key institutions and public services are perceived to be corrupt, measures citizens' views on government efforts to fight corruption, and this year, for the first time, includes questions about the level of state capture and people's willingness to pay a premium for clean corporate behaviour.
Topic:
Corruption, International Trade and Finance, International Affairs, Governance, and Law

1628. Making Government Anti-Corruption Hotlines Effective

Publication Date:
07-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Transparency International
Abstract:
Anti-corruption hotlines provide a key channel for governments to receive complaints from individuals who have come into contact with or been victims of corruption. Increasingly, hotlines are being valued as a channel for citizen redress and as a barometer of the success of government anti-corruption efforts. They provide for broad feedback to governments from civil society on how well policies and institutions are working, where breakdowns occur and where responses are needed. As a service, hotlines are similar to community audits and legal advice centres in offering a means to cross-check whether campaign pledges and government promises are producing results. Yet their success in combating corruption is dependent on a number of operational, administrative, institutional and political factors — each of which this paper will attempt to address by drawing on examples from Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Kenya and Moldova.
Topic:
Civil Society, Corruption, International Affairs, and Governance
Political Geography:
Kenya, Moldova, and Azerbaijan

1629. The Integrity Pact: A Powerful Tool for Clean Bidding

Publication Date:
07-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Transparency International
Abstract:
The Integrity Pact (IP) is a tool developed during the 1990s by Transparency International (TI) to help governments, businesses and civil society intent on fighting corruption in the field of public contracting. It consists of a process that includes an agreement between a government or government department (hereafter referred to as the Authority) and all bidders for a public sector contract.
Topic:
Civil Society, Corruption, International Affairs, and Governance

1630. The Anti-Corruption Plain Language Guide

Publication Date:
10-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Transparency International
Abstract:
Corruption and its effects are a global dilemma. From small bribes paid to police officers in Bangladesh to the holding of stolen assets by banks, the impacts from these abuses on states and citizens are the same: the undermining of the rule of law, the violation of rights, opaque institutions, lost public resources and weakened national integrity.
Topic:
Civil Society, Corruption, International Affairs, and Governance