Participation In Alliances Research Articles

The impact of company participation in supply chain alliances on the cost of equity capital: Evidence from China

The alliance cooperation between corporations and upstream and downstream corporations in the supply chain is of great significance for optimizing resource allocation and enhancing company competitiveness. However, due to the limitation of data availability, there is still a lack of empirical tests on the economic consequences of firms' participation in supply chain alliances. Based on the data of strategic cooperation announcements issued by China's A-share listed companies from 2016 to 2022, this paper manually identifies supply chain alliances and studies the impact of companies' formation or participation in supply chain alliances on the cost of equity capital. The results show that forming or participating in supply chain alliances can effectively reduce the cost of equity capital for companies. The channel test shows that companies forming or participating in supply chain alliances can reduce the cost of equity capital by easing financing constraints and improving competitiveness. Further analysis shows that the pre-set amount and equity-based alliance in the alliance agreement have a more significant effect on reducing the cost of equity capital. At the same time, in regions with a higher degree of marketization and companies with weak supply chain discourse power, the effect of reducing the cost of equity capital after forming supply chain alliance is more significant. This paper reveals the impact of supply chain alliances on the cost of equity capital for corporations, enriches the research on the influencing factors of equity capital cost and the mechanism of company participation in supply chain alliances, helps the capital market improve the signal recognition ability of supply chain alliances, improves the efficiency of capital allocation and the rationality of capital flow, and provides ideas for promoting the quality and efficiency of supply chain alliance.

Impact of strategic alliances on enterprise investment levels

This study selected a sample of listed companies in China from 2012 to 2022 to examine the impact of strategic alliances on enterprise investment levels. Based on the findings, the participation in strategic alliances significantly improved the investment levels of the listed companies, while reducing their financing constraints and enhancing their risk-taking abilities. For the nonstate-owned enterprises, the effect of the participation in strategic alliances on their investment levels was more significant.

Green entrepreneurship orientation and environmental, social, and governance performance: Do contractual strategic alliances matter?

AbstractThe driving forces that enable firms to achieve better environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance have been a popular topic in academia. However, in the context of increasing numbers of entrepreneurial teams engaging in green entrepreneurship, whether a green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) enhances ESG performance from an overall strategic orientation is still unclear. If so, what are the mechanisms by which a GEO influences ESG performance? To determine the potential relationship and influencing mechanism between a GEO and ESG performance, we use Chinese listed firms from 2009 to 2022 as our research sample and fixed effects and difference‐in‐difference models to explore how a GEO affects ESG performance. The results show that a GEO significantly and positively affects ESG performance, especially for nonstate‐owned enterprises (nonSOEs), firms with high digital transformation, and firms in the manufacturing industry. Further research shows that participation in contractual strategic alliances (SAs) can strengthen the effect of a GEO on ESG performance. Moreover, we find that a GEO can efficiently encourage firms to engage in contractual SAs, that the link between the two is moderated by financial constraints (FCs) in an inverse‐U manner, and that this relationship is evident only for nonSOEs. In conclusion, our study provides a nuanced understanding of how a GEO, contractual SAs, and FCs collectively shape corporate ESG activities and elucidates their far‐reaching implications for enhancing ESG performance. Our empirical findings also have practical implications for firms seeking to improve their ESG performance.

A dynamic capability evaluation of emerging business models for new mobility

The ‘new mobility’ is claimed to promise improved transport services with reduced socioeconomic and environmental impacts whilst at the same time creating high-value business opportunities. The present article contributes to understanding the latter part of this promise through analysing the sources of value creation in the new mobility industry. It makes a novel application of a business model concepts - the Dynamic Capabilities approach - to transport research. Drawing on findings from expert interviews with professionals in innovation clusters, the findings reveal that new mobility companies benefit from an inherent dynamism and a continuous learning culture. The participation in networks and alliances let companies reach broader market solutions through cross-regional collaboration. These ecosystems are well equipped to address wider mobility needs founded on managing data. For managers in the new mobility, key conclusions are that establishing a concise value proposition and expanding key resources such as staff skills or data management procedures are crucial for business sustainability.

ЗАКОНОДАВЧІ ОСНОВИ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ УКРАЇНИ

In the conditions of transformational changes in Ukraine, the issue of national security is one of the key ones. Military intervention in relation to our state, crisis processes in the economy, politics, finance, social sphere, opposition to political extremism, separatism, collaborationism, various forms and methods of crime in today's realities are acute, painful problems that require an immediate solution. The state is the defining institution of the political system of Ukraine, the main guarantor of the constitutional system and performs the functions of ensuring national security through legislative, executive and judicial authorities, the key place among which should belong to the parliament, which provides regulatory and legal support for national security in the state. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, within the functional powers defined by the Constitution of Ukraine, determines the principles of internal and foreign policy, the foundations of national security, forms the legislative framework in this area, approves decisions on the introduction of a state of emergency and martial law, mobilization, determination of the general structure, number, and functions of allies and participation in military-political alliances; professionalism of the personnel of the armed forces; the size of military expenditures, the state of military science and the nature of military doctrine. These factors are important objects of Ukraine's military policy. Because it is the effective functioning of the security and defense sector and defense in conditions of limited state resources and the consistent and constructive support of Ukraine by the international community that is the key to the successful provision of socio-political and socio-economic development and regional security, the restoration of peace in Ukraine. Without proper legislative support, the national security system of Ukraine will be formal and unable to protect the rights and freedoms of the Ukrainian people. The article uses a number of general scientific, legal, and philosophical methods and approaches. The worldview position of the authors is determined by the development of the modern complex state of our country, martial law, challenges, globalist military intervention of Russia, etc. All this requires characteristic approaches and methodological expansion of the problem on the basis of the civilizational approach, conceptual approaches of jurisprudence with the application of systemic methods. The theoretical and practical significance of the study includes a comprehensive analysis of the outlined issues of institutional support of the problem of national security in Ukraine at the legislative level.

TRANSITION TO NUCLEAR WAR: INDONESIAN PERSPECTIVE RESPONSE USING ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS AND STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS METHOD

<div><p class="Els-history-head">Since the end of World War II, the use of nuclear power as a weapon of war has been criticized for causing the deaths of up to 55 million people. Then there was a shift in the use of nuclear power from military to peaceful purposes, such as economic goals, and many countries built nuclear reactors as an alternative to conventional fuels. In addition, nuclear power can also serve as a very strong deterrent factor to prevent open war. Indonesia's geographical position is currently surrounded by countries that own nuclear reactors, such as North Korea, Iran, Russia, China, and India, followed by the formation of the AUKUS alliance of Australia, the United Kingdom (U.K.), and the United States (U.S.). With the geopolitical conditions and escalation in the region, Indonesia should take precautionary measures to avoid a nuclear war in the region. This study aims to identify the best anticipatory steps that can be taken by conducting in-depth Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and extracting data using questionnaires from ten academics, diplomats, nuclear experts, military personnel, and professionals, which results in several alternative options. The option is then analyzed to identify which is the best by using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and confirmed with Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT ) Analysis. Based on the findings of the analysis, the sequence of anticipatory steps that must be taken is as follows: 1) through diplomacy; 2) through the strengthening of defense equipment; 3) participation in certain alliances, either temporarily or permanently, and 4) building a national nuclear capability as a deterrent. As a result, diplomacy remains the primary option for resolving the region's escalation</p></div>

Питання геополітичних союзників України у вітчизняній політичній думці першої половини ХХ сторіччя

The article is devoted to the analysis of the coverage of the issue of finding geopolitical partners and allies of Ukraine in the geopolitical teachings of Ukrainian thinkers of the first half of the 20th century. The problems of determining foreign policy priorities and Ukraine’s participation in international alliances in recent decades, the search for reliable partners, foremost in the security sphere, are outlined. It is emphasized that the Revolution of Dignity and Russian aggression crystallized the geopolitical priorities of Ukraine – the course for European and Euro-Atlantic integration was returned to the country’s Constitution, and the Russian geopolitical threat became a fact of the collective consciousness of Ukrainian society. It is noted that the theoretical work of Ukrainian political theorists of the first half of the 20th century has not lost its relevance in our time. Furthermore, it is noted that in the interwar period, the Black Sea region was the geographical space that aroused the greatest interest of Ukrainian geopoliticians and which they considered decisive for the future of the Ukrainian state. In their opinion, the fact that Ukraine is historically a part of the Black Sea-Mediterranean communication space, and also ensured the trade relations of this region with the Baltic States, determines the area of search for partners and allies. However, not only countries located in the region are among Ukraine’s potential allies, but also states that have significant geopolitical and economic interests there. The attitude of theorists of Ukrainian geopolitics to the idea of the Baltic-Pontic Federation and the list of countries that can join it is analyzed. The Ukrainian thinkers’ understanding of the peculiarities of the attitude towards the idea of the union of the countries of Eastern Europe and the creation of the Ukrainian national state within its ethnographic boundaries of the main geopolitical subjects of Europe – Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Soviet Russia – is revealed. The significance of the interaction of the Ukrainian state with Poland and Romania is emphasized. It is emphasized that the ideas of Ukrainian geopoliticians of the first half of the 20th century have not lost their relevance and require further study and understanding.

Alliances of maritime liner container carriers: the essence of this phenomenon and its practical significance

Alliances are a key element of modern liner shipping. This article introduces alliances as a new form of consolidation of container lines and offers general information about their activity. The authors examined numerous reliable sources to evaluate different factors which influence the results of shipping lines' participation in global alliances. The authors offer their appraisal of alliances based on research as well as their own experience in shipping. They consider the liner market as an oligopoly of a few companies, which are closely intertwined with the world’s largest corporations and where international law has been substituted with a control by regulators from some of the most powerful countries in the liner trade. This system allows the business of some customers to be protected, while applying limitations on others. Undoubtedly, the alliances have an influence on Russian foreign trade. In summary, the authors believe that the Russian authorities should carefully investigate and control the service of global carriers and alliances. The chief aim of effective control is the free participation of Russian companies in foreign trade, which is not possible without due support of maritime transport. The alliances are truly global entities. They combine both traditional and new methods, including cutting-edge capabilities of information and digital technologies. To prevent a negative influence of the oligopoly, a new international initiative to regulate the alliances as was done with shipping conferences is highly welcomed by the authors.

Island on a Pendulum: Naxos Between Isolation and Connectivity

Naxos, the largest island of the Cyclades, in the center of the Archipelago, swayed over time between the two ends of the pendulum of insularity, namely between isolation and connectivity, in almost every aspect of human life (society, politics, economy, art, worship etc.). The article examines the position and importance of the island in the Archipelago but also its interaction with the neighboring mainland. It seeks the identity of its inhabitants and whether it differed from that of neighboring islands. It is a diachronic study based on the methods of Historical Archaeology, extending from the Early Iron Age to the end of the Roman period. In this respect, the limitations imposed by the material remains of the past can be overcome by the exploitation of textual evidence in conjunction with evidence found in the landscape and the natural resources.
 The starting point is the image of Naxos in myth and literature as a place chosen for the upbringing of gods (i.e., Zeus’ and Dionysus’) or as a deserted landscape of abandonment and pain (in the case of Ariadne). The article specifies which of these traditions are of local origin and which are panhellenic. Subsequently, local history issues related to the aspect of insularity are examined, such as: the trade of Naxian goods, the spread of Naxian coins, the mobility of Naxians as individuals (artists, professionals, pilgrims, etc.), products imports, the participation in alliances (i.e. Delian League, Second Athenian League, Nesiotic League), issues of colonization and mobility of Naxians in general etc.

The role of corporate social responsibility in the formation of strategic alliances

Firms that pursue more corporate social responsibility (CSR) are perceived as operating with more integrity and should thus be more attractive strategic alliance partners. It remains unknown, however, whether this attractiveness actually translates into more new alliances and how the relationship between CSR and alliances differs for different types of CSR. Drawing from signaling theory, we present novel theorizing about the unique signaling properties of the three core dimensions of CSR –– environmental, social, and governance responsibility –– and explain how the salience of any type of CSR as a signal depends on the institutional setting. Relying on 17 years of data spanning 2,291 observations across 354 U.S. firms, we find that environmental and social responsibility have a positive impact on the number of new alliances firms enter, but that governance responsibility has a negative impact. Further, we find that the relationships between alliance formation and environmental and governance responsibility, respectively, are attenuated by the extent to which the respective type of CSR is institutionally prescribed in the organizational field. Our study adds important nuance to knowledge about the signaling properties of CSR and contributes by explaining the impact of various dimensions of CSR on another key strategic activity that firms pursue –– the participation in alliances. We also contribute to understanding of signaling theory by introducing a novel boundary condition that defines the salience of an activity as a signal: institutional norms for the activity.

МАЛИЙ ТА СЕРЕДНІЙ БІЗНЕС ЯК УЧАСНИК МІЖНАРОДНИХ СТРАТЕГІЧНИХ АЛЬЯНСІВ

The article considers the peculiarities of the construction and functioning of international strategic alliances and the reasons that hinder the participation of Ukrainian small and medium-sized businesses. Recommendations for the development of knowledge-intensive components of small and medium-sized businesses (venture, innovation and manufacturing businesses) and preparation for their participation in international strategic alliances are given: 1. In the conditions of globalization and strengthening of competition companies look for ways of saving of the economic efficiency, increase of competitiveness. One of such ways can be considered an international strategic alliance. ISA is an organizational agreement on long-term cooperation, which provides for the joint use of resources and management structures of two or more independent firms from different countries to implement tasks related to the mission of each of them; ISA is able to promote the innovative development of individual enterprises and the economy of a developing country as a whole; ISAs are an important link in the transfer of technology and other scientific and technical developments of national companies; SMEs with large companies may spread, on the one hand, due to the lack of financial and managerial opportunities for SMEs to develop business and compete with global players in the industry, and, on the other hand, large members of the alliance can count on the flexibility of SMEs and to obtain the results of their scientific and technical work, as well as the expansion of its scientific and technical base through mergers with SMEs or their acquisition; The highest achievement of ISA can be the creation of such innovations and modernization of production at a level that was not even laid down in the formation of the alliance. 2. In order to increase innovation activity, development and preparation of venture, innovation and production small and medium-sized businesses for participation in ISAs, the state must ensure after completion of quarantine: - increasing the investment attractiveness of Ukraine by maintaining political, economic stability and lasting peace in the country; - in the legislative order of creation and stimulation of the competitive environment in the field of venture, innovative and industrial small and average business in perspective branches of economy; – the possibility of using ways to diversify effective financial support for innovative enterprises based on the experience of developed countries; – stimulating bank capital to preferential financing of innovative SMEs in promising industries; – creation of a legislative basis for the development of the “angel network” in Ukraine; – obtaining a mandatory level of financial training through online education for start-ups in order to reduce the risk of using their financial support; – creation and development of regional infrastructure of resource, information, scientific and technical support for SMEs; – organization of training of high-class specialists in the field of support of venture business and organization of works on creation and realization of perspective projects; – sustainable development of the Ukrainian stock market; – improvement of the legal framework in terms of clarifying the functions and principles of venture funds and venture firms in order to eliminate their misuse of tax benefits; – protection of Ukrainian intellectual property abroad.

ВІЙСЬКОВИЙ ПОТЕНЦІАЛ РЕГІОНАЛЬНИХ ОБ’ЄДНАНЬ

At the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century, large-scale interna-tional conflicts and wars between groups of individuals, unrecognized international actors and countries continue to unfold. In the context of globalization, the issue of forming and strengthening the military potential of the country largely depends on its international integration policy and participation in regional alliances. Relations between the members of regional organizations are formed in the spheres of trade, finance, technical and political cooperation, among which the most important issue is military cooperation, which strengthens their military potential on the world stage. The study found that in existing regional organizations, the degree of military interaction between countries differs significantly. The authors grouped regional organizations according to the power of military cooperation into three groups. The first group is regional integration organizations that do not have joint military forces, military programs and coordination structures. This group includes the vast majority of regional organizations. The second group is regional integration organizations, which have a small amount of military cooperation, conduct joint military exercises, carry out force programs and are able to solve problems with a consolidated military force. This group includes and studied: Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU). The third group is regional alliances, which have a strong military potential. These integration organizations have: an extensive system of international agreements; unified standards; joint military units; joint development programs; coordinating structures; carry out joint exercises and military operations. This group includes: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), European Union (EU). Based on the author's analysis of the military potential of regional organizations, recommendations for countries have been developed. For the countries of the first group it is necessary to determine the expediency of strengthening the military potential of the country by strengthening the integration process: within the membership of existing integration organizations; joining other integration organizations; creation of new integration organizations. For the countries of the second group, it is advisable to continue to support military formations, increase spending on the protection and defense of life and health of their citizens from terrorist groups and other illegal actions that may endanger the government and civilians. For the countries of the third group it is recommended to maintain cooperation in the military sphere, to increase the costs of improving military equipment and weapons. Conduct more joint exercises to gain new experience and skills in different conditions of use of military resources in civilian and military spheres. These most powerful regional alliances have an advantage in the military field precisely because of the number of troops, the number of weapons, military equipment, and joint military bases. And the main goal of these regional organizations is to create security for their citizens and the world as a whole, through the development of new effective mechanisms for global interaction.

From the Radical Psychology Movement to STS: A Journey From the 1960s in Multiple Parts

ABSTRACT Activism in the late-1960s through the early 1970s in the radical psychology movement created the foundation for an intellectual critique and political practice that was part of a group of overall radical science movements that would become important components of STS in practice. The radical psychology movement emphasized lay perspectives in science and medicine, public participation in science, alternative care, and citizen-science alliances. The anti-psychiatry movement among professionals complemented this phenomenon. Groups such as Psychologists for a Democratic Society and numerous mental patients' rights groups, publications like The Radical Therapist, radical caucuses in professional organizations, and a burgeoning feminist therapy approach helped create a major challenge to normal science in the mental health sector. Participants in these movements were connected to broader health activism and to radical science efforts. Lessons from these challenges to the status quo were useful in developing critical environmental health and justice movements later on, resulting in civic science and community-based participatory research projects which would become central elements of STS. These traditions also nourished a strong co-existence of scholarship and activism in many arenas of science and medicine.

Основні тенденції розвитку сучасних двосторонніх відносин України та Польщі

Abstract. Introduction. The article analyzes the problems of the latest bilateral relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland, as well as the role of the Polish-Ukrainian partnership in the process of European integration as an object of international relations. The purpose. The author has proved that contemporary Ukrainian-Polish relations are an example of tolerance and balance. Both countries were able to find a formula to overcome the negative stereotypes and stratifications that have developed over the centuries. At the same time, despite the heavy burden of historical grievances and memory, they built interstate relations on the principles of international law, respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, and thereby brought relations to the level of strategic partnership. Research results . At the same time, the author focuses on identifying the existing reserves and resources of the mutual development of Ukraine and Poland in the global economy and finding a worthy place for both states on the political map of a united Europe. The author notes that modern globalization processes and geopolitical changes on a planetary and continental scale pose a number of new challenges for Ukraine and Poland related to maintaining positive bilateral relations achieved in previous years and further filling the doctrine of strategic partnership with real content. In this sense, the determination of the priorities of Ukrainian-Polish cooperation in the context of geopolitical configurations that are being formed at the beginning of the new millennium and will play a key role in global politics of the 21st century is of paramount importance. Conclusion . In the context of the development of the Ukrainian-Polish strategic partnership in the modern system of geopolitical coordinates, the main priority for the two states is participation in political alliances in which Ukraine and Poland will be able to most fully and effectively realize their own national interests. First of all, the Baltic-Black Sea-Caspian geopolitical space is promising in the effective cooperation between Ukraine and Poland, given its global political importance, as well as the role that individual countries of this belt play in the modern world.

Public Support for the Armed Forces: The Role of Conscription

ABSTRACT How does conscription influence citizens’ support for the armed forces? We argue that conscription, more so than voluntary-recruitment systems, can reach out to and socialize larger segments of the society in line with the military’s values. This, in turn, induces more positive views of the armed forces. Using a unique data set comprising information for 34 European states in 1997–2017, we find robust evidence that countries with conscription-based recruitment tend to be characterized by higher levels of support for the military. This result greatly adds to the debate about the type of military-recruitment system countries should implement: abolishing compulsory military service is usually seen as increasing efficiency and performance; yet, a positive – and previously unknown – externality of conscription that we identify is a higher degree of support by the public, which is pivotal for, inter alia, defense-policy implementation, military interventions abroad, budget considerations, or the participation in military alliances.

Ambidexterity, Alliances and Environmental Management System Adoption in Spanish Hotels

Competitiveness in the hotel sector and its effect on the environment involves integrating environmental issues in hotel management. Current environmental challenges often require firms to cope with contradictory processes. Ambidexterity is a firm’s capability to deal with conflicting demands and could be helpful in increasing a firm’s environmental management system (EMS) adoption. Furthermore, given the complexity of technological advances, environmental requirements demand inter-firm collaboration. The aim of this study is to further an understanding of how hotels can increase EMS adoption by providing a framework of the contributing effect of alliances and ambidexterity. Results from tests using logistic regression and bootstrapping techniques on a sample of 306 Spanish hotels confirm the importance of ambidexterity because of its positive and direct effect on EMS adoption, and because of the mediating effect, which helps transform the benefits of firms’ participation in strategic alliances into their adoption of EMS. This study contributes to the literature on ambidexterity by highlighting the importance for firms to develop this capability. It also contributes to a better understanding of the drivers of EMS adoption, introducing the integrated effect of hotel participation in alliances and ambidexterity. Hotel managers should endeavor to develop ambidexterity capability to facilitate EMS adoption.

ANALYSIS OF EFFECTIVENESS OF COMPANIES PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

Strategic alliances in the global economy are seen as one of the fundamental pillars of business development sustainability. The analysis of scientific papers showed the absence of reasonable methods of analysis and assessment of the participation effectiveness in strategic alliances. The purpose of the study is to develop the analytical tools assess the participation effectiveness in international strategic alliances. The methodological basis of the research served as scientific, mathematical-statistical, analytical methods, systematic approach to assessing the effectiveness of the participation of companies in international strategic alliances. Scientific results are systematization, analysis and development concepts, objectives and benefits of establishing an international strategic alliance development and testing methodology for identifying synergistic effects of participation in alliances that includes qualitative and quantitative components.

Sustaining participation in multisector health care alliances: The role of personal and stakeholder group influence.

Cross-sectoral collaborative organizations (e.g., alliances, coalitions) bring together members from different industry sectors to ameliorate multifaceted problems in local communities. The ability to leverage the diverse knowledge and skills of these members is predicated on their sustained participation, which research has shown to be a significant challenge. The purpose of this study was to investigate how alliance member perceptions of decision-making influence relate to sustained participation in the alliance and its activities. An Internet-based survey of 638 members of 15 multistakeholder health care alliances participating in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Aligning Forces for Quality program was conducted. Ordinal logistic regression path analysis was used to estimate the relationship between two types of influence (personal influence and general stakeholder influence), perceived value of alliance participation, and intentions regarding future participation. Alliance members saw less participation value when their personal influence was believed to be lower than the influence of other alliance members (b = -0.09, p < .05). This type of influence was not significantly associated with the anticipated level of future participation. In contrast, imbalances in general stakeholder group influence was not significantly associated with perceived value, but greater imbalances were associated with a decreased likelihood of future participation (OR = 0.52, 95% CI [0.32, 0.83]). Our findings highlight the important yet complicated task of balancing perceptions of influence; leaders must keep the desired outcomes in mind when considering what type of influence to attend to.

The Impact of Membership in Strategic Alliances on the Profitability of Firms in the Retail Sector

Strategic alliances in the retail sector are based on cooperation in a variety of activities, ranging from supply and marketing to knowledge sharing and branding. For their members, they are a source of sustainable competitive advantage. Ever since the 1990s, a growing number of firms from the retail sector have attempted to improve their performance through participation in strategic alliances. The objective of this paper is to explore how participation in strategic alliances influences profitability of firms in the retail sector. A dynamic panel analysis is applied to the data on nearly 3,700 firms obtained from Amadeus, a large firm-level database, for eight countries (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary and Estonia) for the 2007–2012 period. The results of the investigation suggest that participation in strategic alliances positively influences a firm’s performance.

Shifting Alliances in International Organizations: A social networks analysis of co-sponsorship of UN GA resolutions, 1976-2012

While general belief is that the military alliances are stable and rigid, the authors argue that the states are far more flexible in their behavior and often act against their alliances. This paper looks at states' behavior in the UN GA and looks how it is reflected in participation in military alliances during three periods of history since 1976 to this day. The authors illustrate the need to consider the network representation of co-sponsoring groups in General Assembly votes. They find significant support for their argument, indicating that social aspects can be extended beyond alliances. An application of social network analysis shows some unexpected affiliations in UN GA. If the UN GA is the "true" nature of these countries' alliance strategies, then it might suggest some significant defections and interesting association.