Artificial Intelligence and the prohibition on the use of force: intention and causation

This article explores the application of Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter to AI-enabled systems that carry out unintended engagements involving the use of force. First, it analyzes whether State responsibility for a breach of the prohibition on the use of force is defined in subjective or objective terms. Most commentators maintain that a State must intend to use force against the victim State in order for the prohibition to apply. However, through an examination of State practice, this article demonstrates that the prohibition is based on objective responsibility. Second, this article assesses whether a State must cause the resulting use of force in order for responsibility to ensue. After determining that causation is a condition precedent for establishing a breach of the prohibition on the use of force, this article explains that causation comprises two elements: factual causation asks whether the harmful effects would have occurred but for the impugned conduct, while legal causation asks whether the use of force was reasonably expected when the operation was launched. This article then examines how these elements apply to AI-enabled systems that engage in unintended uses of force and offers illustrative examples

Exploring one of the darker sides of expatriation: Chinese expatriates’ experiences with petty corruption in Tanzania

Drawing on institutional isomorphism and Bourdieu’s concept of capital, this ethnographic study provides a comprehensive examination of how institutional pressures interact with individual capital (linguistic, cultural and social) to shape expatriates’ behaviours in dealing with local petty corruption practices. We find that co- ercive isomorphism is often intensified by a lack of local linguistic capital, mimetic isomorphism is reinforced by uncertainty in a foreign environment, and normative isomorphism is shaped by norms and expectations origi- nating from both the host and home countries, rather than being solely rooted in the local environment. Our findings highlight the critical role of individual capital as a moderator of institutional responses. By bridging macro-level neo-institutional theory and micro-level practices, this study deepens our understanding of how expatriates’ behaviour is shaped by both broader institutional environments and the personal resources they bring to their host country

A systematic methodology for retrofitting ageing urban residential buildings in China: a case study based on integrated approaches

Ageing urban residential buildings have significant potential for energy conservation, carbon emission reduction, enhanced indoor thermal comfort, and quality of life improvements. Yet, the current residential building retrofitting projects are proceeding on a pragmatic building-by-building scale; hence, the lack of a systematic approach and theoretical basis has significantly hindered the progress of Retrofitting Ageing Urban Residential Buildings (RAURB) in modern cities. Therefore, this research develops an innovative and coherent approach for the design and assessment of RAURB based on the new Systematic Retrofitting Theoretical Framework (SRTF) developed by the new System Player Analysis (SPA) method. RAURB System players of residents, policymakers, designers, engineers, and scholars are identified and justified to respectively and cooperatively satisfy their individual retrofit demands. An urban case study area with 81 ageing residential buildings is implemented in Chongqing, China. The retrofit benefits and costs are simulated and assessed using the Analytic Network Process (ANP) method of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) to evaluate the criteria priority of potential energy saving, investment costs, and improvements in accessibility, safety, and functionality to residents. Moreover, the priority results obtained from this research are analyzed and discussed to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of the new SRTF of RAURB, providing useful suggestions to support the prediction of retrofit benefits and costs, decision-making, and future policymaking

Language and migration

This chapter deals with the relationship between language and migration. From early human migrations, through centuries of colonialism and up to contemporary phases of globalization, the discussion draws on anthropology as well as applied linguistics, geography and sociology to understand the complex interactions between language practices and human mobility. Literacy and multilingualism are explored within their social, cultural and political contexts as a means of illustrating the diversity of language practices migrants draw on at various stages of their migrations