International Links Research Articles

The international diversification-performance link in Spain: Does firm size really matter?

This study provides new insights into the link between international diversification and firm performance in a sample of large manufacturing firms and SMEs based in Spain for the 1994–2008 period. Specifically, the focus is on how the nature and shape of this relationship may vary over time with firm size. The results show the existence of a horizontal-S curve when the whole sample of firms is considered in the empirical analysis. However, major differences are found between SMEs and large firms, and even within the actual group of SMEs. Strong support is found in large firms for the existence of a horizontal-S curve. Within the group of SMEs, there are small firms with a linear and negative relationship, whereas medium-sized firms record a U-shaped form. These findings suggest that as the international diversification-performance link is size-dependent, future research should explicitly consider firm size in order to better understand the nature of this relationship.

The shaping of climate science: half a century in personal perspective

Abstract. The paper traces my career as a climatologist from the 1950s and that of most of my graduate students from the late 1960s. These decades were the formative ones in the evolution of climate science. Following a brief account of the history of climatology, a summary of my early training, my initial teaching and research in the UK is discussed. This is followed by new directions at the University of Colorado, Boulder from October 1968. The history of the World Data Center for Glaciology/National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder from 1977 is described and climate-cryosphere initiatives at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES). International activities and links are then reported, followed by a section on national and international committees. I then describe my activities during sabbaticals and research leaves. The paper concludes with discussion of my "retirement" activities and an epilogue. The paper is based on a lecture given at the Roger Barry Symposium: A Chronicle of Distinction: From the Arctic to the Andes, at the University of Colorado, 10 August 2004 and updated to 2014.

Virological diagnosis of Ebolavirus infection

SummaryEbolaviruses, and the other viral causes of haemorrhagic fevers (VHF) have always posed special problems for diagnostic laboratories. These arise from the rarity of human infections, minimal documented experience with test delivery and interpretation, the paucity of established commercial or in-house assays, the lack of clinical material for test development and validation, the high level containment required for handling live virus, the ongoing evolution of the viruses, and the high personal and public health requirements for accurate diagnosis. This article addresses the current situation and the ongoing challenges associated with delivering timely, high quality and safe testing within Australia for people exposed as part of the current major outbreak of Ebolavirus disease (EVD) in Western Africa. The members of the Public Health Laboratory Network have developed deliverable and reliable nucleic acid detection tests, and also have the laboratory capacity to handle the live viruses if necessary. However delivering and maintaining these services necessitates high levels of experience in developing and applying tests for exotic and emerging infections, strong national and international links and collaborations, ongoing monitoring and reassessment of test design and performance, innovative approaches to generation of positive control material, and a regular quality assurance program.

Understanding the ‘Lived Experience’ of Unaccompanied Young Women: Challenges and Opportunities for Social Work

This article reports a small-scale piece of qualitative research, undertaken within a specialist social work team for asylum-seeking or trafficked young people, in a rural local authority in the UK. Following a multi-perspectival approach, it utilised both discourse theory and psycho-social theory to describe how social workers were drawing both on ways of talking and ways of feeling in their constructions of young women. The research concluded that a relationship-based model of social work is essential to prevent practitioners from falling back onto generalised social discourses or unconsidered emotional responses. It is further argued that social workers involved with this group of young people need access to specialist sources of training and knowledge outside of their organisation, and that building national and international links between practitioners in this field could further strengthen practice.

Network approach to internet bandwidth distributions

This study examines the communications networks formed by direct international Internet links, weighted by bandwidth capacity, each year over the 2002–2011 period. Specifically, we analyze changes in bandwidth distributions at country, regional, and continental levels during the period and identify network communities at these different levels. We apply an urn-based model developed with country-level data to bandwidth distributions at regional and continental levels. While the 2011 global Internet network closely resembles that of 2002, the network has become more tightly interconnected over time, and the high international bandwidth regions of Northern Europe, Northern America, and Western Europe have seen a modest decline in their share of total global bandwidth. As a consequence, international bandwidth concentration is showing a slow decline. Relative connectedness as measured by percentage of bandwidth staying within UN geographic regions is decreasing, whereas the percentage remaining within the continent has been fairly constant during the analysis period. All of this must be understood in the context of enormous total international bandwidth growth between 2002 and 2011 at all levels of analysis.

Contemporary Structural Changes in Irkutsk as a Siberian Regional Centre

Much that has been taking place in today’s Irkutsk is quite typical for cities of post-Soviet Russia. Irkutsk is suffering from drastic structural changes: in its macro-geographic position and international links, in the structure of production, in its postindustrial (non-production) functions, in the system of regional development. The total estimation of changes should be positive. But we can see a lot of losses. Some of them seem to be temporary, but there are also losses caused by the market character of the reforms themselves.

Obituary: juan josé lópez-ibor (1941-2015).

Obituary: juan josé lópez-ibor (1941-2015).

Spatial concentration and connectivity of international passenger traffic at Brazilian airports

This paper examines concentration and connectivity of international passenger airport traffic in Brazil. The analysis considers seat supply and scheduled flights from 1999 to 2012. The 2000–2005 period was marked by concentration and limited international flight links, which was followed by the movement to recover capacity and connectivity from 2005 to 2010. Brazil started to liberalize bilateral agreements in 2002, and eventually moved towards the “open skies” concept in 2010, facilitating the process of operational de-concentration and increasing seat supply. The Brazilian government's liberalisation policy through bilateral agreements did not spark off a significant turnaround for national airlines; rather, the revived traffic growth was led by foreign airlines. This movement brought significant changes in the composition of international passenger traffic in Brazil, although changing little in terms of concentration and connectivity. The real change was the dominance of foreign airlines and seat distribution by regions, with the Latin America and Caribbean region shrinking to less than half of the market.

Tribute to a great obstetrician: in memory of Ingemar Ingemarsson.

Ingemar Ingemarsson, grew up in a rural area in Smaland in the southern part of Sweden. He studied and graduated at the Medical Faculty at Lund University and started his career in obstetrics and gynecology in 1972 at the University Hospital in Lund. He defended his PhD thesis in 1975, was appointed consultant and later became Head of the Department and Professor in Obstetrics at Lund University. In 1997 the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists acknowledged Ingemar Ingemarsson's contributions to our speciality and honored him by the "Fellow ad eundum" award; one of seven Swedish obstetricians and gynecologists to be given that honor. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Myanmar: The Key Link between South Asia and Southeast Asia

This paper examines the road and railway links in Myanmar connecting northeast India on the one side with the rest of Southeast Asia on the other. It also discusses the importance of new deep-sea ports in creating alternative shipping routes, essential for Myanmar's international links. It also reviews the country's external trade patterns, and analyzes issues related to trade facilitation, exchange rate policy, financial sector reform, and private sector development. The extent to which these gaps can be addressed will depend on the costs and benefits. South Asia-Southeast Asia connectivity can only be accomplished if Myanmar improves the hard and soft infrastructure aspects of connectivity.

Angolan civil society activism since the 1990s: reformists, confrontationists and young revolutionaries of the ‘Arab spring generation’

Aiming for regime transformation, post-transition Angolan civil society activism moved from reformism and confrontationism to ultra-confrontationism. Reformism and confrontationism evolved until the 2008 elections, influenced by development thinking (neoliberalism/institutionalism vs neo-Marxism/world-system thinking), in two opposing strategies: ‘constructive engagement’ vs political defiance. The dispute ended with ultra-confrontationism gaining impetus with the Arab spring, with a younger generation resorting to new methods (information and communications technology and demonstrations). Despite the lack of funding or international links, the newer methods caused more concern to the regime. Nevertheless, they suffer from the same shortfalls as their predecessors: they are confined to an urban/suburban social segment, and unable to attract the majority of the population.

Who owns the international Internet networks?

This research examines who controls the international Internet using a multi-level network analysis. Internet provider (IP) address ownership data obtained from TeleGeography (http://www.telegeography.com/) are used to describe the structure of the international network of private companies and Internet service providers (ISPs). The results indicate that 16 companies, headquartered in seven countries, are at the center of the network, each accounting for more than 1% of international Internet connections. Level 3 Communications, based in the United States, is at the center of the network. The United States is the most central nation in the ownership network. American corporations account for almost 40% of the international links. A cluster analysis found a single group centered about the United States. The ownership network is consistent with other measures of the international Internet network. Its structure replicates and maintains the global hierarchy as suggested by world system and globalization theory. Policy implications are discussed.

Sinanthropus in Britain: human origins and international science, 1920-1939.

The Peking Man fossils discovered at Zhoukoudian in north-east China in the 1920s and 1930s were some of the most extensive palaeoanthropological finds of the twentieth century. This article examines their publicization and discussion in Britain, where they were engaged with by some of the world's leading authorities in human evolution, and a media and public highly interested in human-origins research. This international link - simultaneously promoted by scientists in China and in Britain itself - reflected wider debates on international networks; the role of science in the modern world; and changing definitions of race, progress and human nature. This article illustrates how human-origins research was an important means of binding these areas together and presenting scientific work as simultaneously authoritative and credible, but also evoking mystery and adventurousness. Examining this illustrates important features of contemporary views of both science and human development, showing not only the complexities of contemporary regard for the international and public dynamics of scientific research, but wider concerns over human nature, which oscillated between optimistic notions of unity and progress and pessimistic ones of essential differences and misdirected development.

The Availability and Utilization of E-Learning Infrastructures for Teaching and Learning

The increased involvement of technology in all aspects of our lives places educational institutions under pressure to include these aspects at the heart of their learning. This ensures that they continue to be competitive in a constantly changing market with international and cultural links and the organizational infrastructure often presents the greatest barrier to such developments. Although the Government is committed to implementing ICT in education, the process seems to be militated by a number of barriers hence this study investigated the availability and utilization of e-learning infrastructures for teaching and learning at the University of Ibadan. Four research questions guided the study. The population of the study was made up of 482 students and 180 lecturers randomly selected from the four faculties of the institution. Data obtained was analyzed using mean and t-test. Some of the findings revealed that e- learning infrastructures are not adequate in the higher institution of learning. Development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is mainly for administrative purposes. In addition, both lecturers and students have computers and laptops which could be used to access the internet but, they do not use them for teaching and learning. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made to encourage the use of e-learning infrastructures to foster teaching and learning in the university. The university should as matter of urgency organize in house training for lecturers on the use of ICT for teaching and learning. Government should release the necessary funds to enable universities put in place necessary ICT infrastructures that will facilitate teaching and learning. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p1348

The Countercultural Potential of Citizen Science

What is the countercultural potential of citizen science? As a participant in the wider citizen science movement, I can attest that contemporary citizen science initiatives rarely characterise themselves as countercultural. Rather, the goal of most citizen science projects is to be seen as producing orthodox scientific knowledge: the ethos is respectability rather than rebellion (NERC). I will suggest instead that there are resonances with the counterculture that emerged in the 1960s, most visibly through an emphasis on participatory experimentation and the principles of environmental sustainability and social justice. This will be illustrated by example, through two citizen science projects that have a commitment to combining social values with scientific practice. I will then describe the explicitly countercultural organisation, Science for the People, which arose from within the scientific community itself, out of opposition to the Vietnam War. Methodological and conceptual weaknesses in the authoritative model of science are explored, suggesting that there is an opportunity for citizen science to become anti-hegemonic by challenging the hegemony of science itself. This reformulation will be expressed through Deleuze and Guattari's notion of nomadic science, the means through which citizen science could become countercultural.

Research dedicated to children: SwissPedNet with its international links overcomes key barriers to proper research in paediatrics.

Conducting clinical studies in the paediatric population is complex and difficult. Paediatricians deal with a vulnerable population, which primarily needs protection and where patient numbers are always low. In addition, the pharmaceutical industry often demonstrates lack of interest due to the small and non-rewarding market. Public awareness for the need of paediatric research is likewise limited. This results in lack of funding for academic studies. In Switzerland, there is a new initiative that strives to overcome the given barriers and hurdles. SwissPedNet is still in a start-up phase, but it is now ready for all collaborations of interest and keen to work together with all stakeholders on the medical progress and improvement of paediatric clinical research with the overall goal of implementing evidence-based medicine for our children (www.swisspednet.ch).

Linkages between emerging and developed equity markets: Empirical evidence in the PMG framework

This paper empirically investigates the international equity market causal links between Central and South-Eastern Europe, on the one hand, and developed countries (Western Europe and the United States), on the other hand, over the monthly sample period spanning from October 2000 to September 2012. Unlike previous studies, we use the pooled mean group (PMG) approach of Pesaran et al. (1999), which is suitable to estimate dynamic heterogeneous panels to draw reliable conclusions. After cointegration is found between the stock markets of interest, the PMG estimates show evidence of each market's sensitivity to the fluctuations of the other markets over both the short- and long-run, supporting the feedback hypothesis. The impact of developed markets on emerging markets is more important than that of emerging markets on developed markets and the bidirectional impact is higher between emerging and Western European markets than between these emerging markets and the United States. These conclusions are robust to an alternative specification, which supports the view that the stock markets are closely interlinked. The findings are of great interest and have important implications for policy makers, investors, and practitioners.

MILITARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Much has already been written on the importance of military education and training since the creation of the independent Slovenia. Some may wonder why to re-open this topic, while others might think that nothing has been written on the issue in a while. Irrespective of the approach, this is a very dynamic area, filled with action and changes, especially with regard to activities in the context of the classic military education and training, international military exercises, and participation in international operations and missions. Last year, the Slovenian Armed Forces adopted the Doctrine of Military Education and Training. It was signed by the then minister on 15 March 2013. The Doctrine reflects the changes that the Bologna Process has brought into the European environment. It could be said that the Bologna Process planted the desire and necessity in the European spirit to be more comparable, interoperable and of higher quality. The quality of education, training and advanced training is gaining importance in both the European Union and the Alliance. Increasing integration and transparency of educational institutions are blurring the boundaries and divisions between the public and military educational institutions. There are substantive differences between the two, while the common objective is being the best. Regardless of the international links, the foundations of the public and military educational institutions are in the domain of individual countries. These are always the ones that allow, direct and provide the organizational, substantive and financial conditions for the operation and, in particular, the development of such institutions in which our common future is being developed. It has been known for some time that there is a constant decrease in educational resources in the broadest sense, which is a reason more for increasing the quality of education and better utilizing the internal potentials. What, therefore, is new in military education and training? The future vision of military education in relation to the latest European trends in Romania and the Romanian Armed Forces is presented by Olivian Stănică in his paper titled Global Success of “Europe 2020” – Remodelling Education Systems, Even Military Ones?. In his paper Security Studies – Synthesis between Academy and Practice, Darko Trifunović, Serbia, points to various conflict situations in the world and the ways to resolve them, building on the example of the “Arab Spring”. The key quality issue is whether the education systems follow and include the latest knowledge acquired from practice. The Macedonian approach to the development of the military education system is described by Slavko Angelevski and Metodi Hadji-Janev in their paper titled Contemporary Challenges in Military Education – Macedonian Military Academy in the Context. They claim that the redefinition of the role and responsibilities of the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” in Skopje was most affected by the dynamics of the transformation processes in the Alliance and Macedonia. The Slovenian view of military education and training is presented by Vinko Vegič and Stojan Zabukovec who, in the paper titled Officer Education: From Discussions on the Organization to the Consideration of Contents, emphasize the importance of higher quality at all levels of military education and training. Particular focus is placed on the role and importance of quality providers. Miha Rijavec, in his paper titled Future of the Officer Career Development System in the Slovenian Armed Forces, derives from the recent organizational changes in the Slovenian Armed Forces and proposes the introduction of several best practises from the British Army, which he believes would bring added value to the Slovenian officer career development system. “Auftragstaktik” is a German term for the doctrine principles which are the product of the Prussian-German military school. In English, the term best suited to this expression is mission command. This prompted the writing of Viktor Potočnik, who addressed the topic in his paper titled Auftragstaktik/Mission Command in the Slovenian Armed Forces. We hope that the content presented above contributes to the development of military scientific and professional thought. We particularly want to encourage all those who are interested in military topics. Perhaps, here and there, you sometimes think of writing something on a military topic you are well familiar with, but there is not much literature on your topic. This might be a good reason and an additional incentive for writing.

Mao’s new democracy and Ghana’s foreign policy change in 1983

Flight Lieutenant John Rawlings took power by a coup d’etat accusing the previous Limann regime of being neo-colonialist and being a slave of imperialists in 1981. When he took power, he was mainly supported by radical leftists and Ghana’s foreign policy leant towards socialist countries. However, two years later the regime drastically reversed its foreign policy towards the West. The paper focuses on the foreign policy change in 1983 and takes a close look at the role of Maoism on the elite in the foreign policy change in Ghana. During the first two years of the Rawlings regime, the June Forth Movement (JFM) and the New Democratic Movement (NDM) were two main elite groups in the regime. Even though the JFM and the NDM shared the same goal of socialism, the two groups had different visions on how to reach to the goal. The JFM sought rapid socialism through attacking the rich and severing international links with imperialist countries. On the other hand, for the NDM, which was influenced by Mao’s “New Democracy” as the name indicates, embracement of the rich business people and international players were on its path to the ultimate socialism. In the middle of the ideological conflicts between the two, Rawlings severed the link with the JFM whose leaders turned out to be threats to survival of the regime, and in the process the NDM emerged as the single influential power group. The NDM and Rawlings turned Ghana’s foreign policy toward the West and sought for aid from the Bretton Woods institutions in 1983.

The Dube TradePort-King Shaka International Airport mega-project: Exploring impacts in the context of multi-scalar governance processes

Mega-projects aimed at enhancing urban economic infrastructure have been widely recognised as a feature of cities in which influential actors are eager to encourage economic growth. They have also been described as being central in influencing physical patterns of city growth through their direct and indirect impacts on land-uses. Whilst such initiatives are not necessarily new, it has been noted in more recent urban development experiences that these projects tend to involve crafting highly complex, mixed-use environments through a variety of forms of public-private collaboration. Furthermore, they are promoted not only in instrumental terms as facilities or infrastructure to serve a need of a particular economic process, but are also often packaged and motivated as comprehensive urban developments that can reposition the image of cities in a highly competitive global investment environment. Such processes are both influenced by and, in turn, influence multi-scalar governance processes and practices, both in the planning and motivating projects, as well as in their operations. The new King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) and Dube TradePort (DTP), located some 35 km north from the City of Durban in South Africa, were projects developed with the intention of replacing an apparently obsolete facility so as to enable the region to attract more international aviation links that could, in turn, support tourism and exports. Based on analysis of documents and a range of stakeholder interviews, the paper shows how the development of the facilities and the associated impacts, from the shaping of space to meeting of operational targets, have been influenced by and also influenced the character of governance arrangements.