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1 |
ID:
132308
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Publication |
2014.
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Summary/Abstract |
This article investigates how perceptions of China in Mozambican civil society are affected by entrepreneurial activity and bilateral cooperation between China and Mozambique - real, imagined, visible and legal as well as clandestine and illegal in the agricultural and forestry sectors. The research problem concerns how discourse on Chinese investors is formed in Mozambique. Two questions are posed. How does Mozambican civil society perceive their room to maneuver at a time of Chinese growing economic interest and 'return' to Africa? What views exist on the policy space for the national government? Using qualitative ethnographic interviews to answer these overarching questions about expanding/contracting maneuvering space, this article explains how Mozambique's largest social group - peasants - the National Association of Small Farmers (UNAC) and other societal actors perceive Chinese investors. Informed by theoretical debates on civil society, the article argues that coinciding with China's large-scale return to Africa, an already tense dynamic between civil society and the state is picking up speed. It is argued that this phenomenon is likely to have more to do with African governments accruing more power and policy space than through direct impact of Chinese economic activity on African social life. However, to avoid negative discourse formation, China and host governments need to become more open on and transparent about bilateral agreements.
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2 |
ID:
122951
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Publication |
2013.
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Summary/Abstract |
This article reviews the pros and cons of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate change mitigation regime and the polycentric initiatives that have arisen in response to phlegmatic progress in international climate change mitigation efforts. It concludes that the combined efficacy of the UNFCCC regime and these polycentric initiatives embody necessary but insufficient efforts to avert the perils associated with amplified climate change scenarios. The author concludes by proposing that a bilateral agreement between the USA and China that focuses on exploiting national commercial synergies represents a promising strategy through which to encourage enhanced commitment by these two key nations to greenhouse gas reduction. Regardless of whether or not a US-China partnership materialises, the notion of bilateral agreements between developed and developing nations-such as Japan and Brazil, or India and the EU block of nations-and of the ensuing competition among these national pairings could be a missing element to more effective climate change mitigation efforts.
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3 |
ID:
130845
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Publication |
2014.
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Summary/Abstract |
The article examines the application of international law, particularly the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, to Arctic regions and international relations between countries who have territory in the Arctic regions. The growth of bilateral and multilateral agreements for environmental protection of the Arctic Ocean and its marine biodiversity is examined. The impact of those agreements on the concept of freedom of the seasons is discussed.
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