Making sense of co-operative governance: competing models and tensions

This paper focuses on how cooperatives and mutual associations are governed. At the heart of these arrangements is an organisation's governing body or board. Paralleling developments in the private sector, the quality of governance of co-operatives has been questioned. Serious concerns have been raised both about the democratic legitimacy of boards and their effectiveness, for example the ability of lay board members to effectively supervise senior managers, ensure probity and protect the interests of members and other relevant stakeholders

An Exploratory Study on the Level of Trust towards Online Retailers among Consumers in the United Kingdom and Malaysia

This study aims to investigate the extant level of trust towards online retailers among consumers in two different geographical and cultural locations – UK and Malaysia based on Michell’s et al. trust model. The objectives of this study are: 1. To identify the predictive variables of customers’ trust towards online retailers 2. To ascertain the extent of the consumer trust variable as being the essential element of online shopping 3. To analyse the differences in perception of online trust between consumers in the United Kingdom and Malaysia The study showed that online retailers are comparatively more trusted in UK than in Malaysia indicative by the higher average levels of trust from consumers in the UK. Additionally, the UK had a higher age group in the 25 – 34 category contributing the highest average trust value compared to Malaysia’s highest average trust value found in the lower 18 – 24 age group. There were a relatively higher percentage of male users; 66 per cent and 78 per cent in the UK and Malaysia respectively. Multiple stepwise regressions were used to analyse the level of trust against the selected trust correlates

Credibility and Agency Termination under Parliamentarism

We investigate the life span and risk of termination of 723 arm’s length agencies in the United Kingdom between 1985 and 2008, an under investigated question in parliamentary systems. We hypothesize that termination risk depends on three groups of factors: (1) factors relating to the rationales for initial delegation of responsibility to the arm’s length agency; (2) factors relating to the political and economic position of the government; and (3) factors relating to the institutional form of the agency. We find that agencies intended to generate credible commitments in regulation are less likely than others to be terminated in any given year. Agencies operating under right-wing governments and under heavily indebted governments are more likely to be terminated, although left-wing governments are more sensitive to the effects of debt. Agencies structured as executive non-departmental public bodies and non-ministerial departments are also longer lived than others. Contrary to expectations about arm’s length agencies in parliamentary systems with single-party government, partisan change does not affect the risk of termination

Money matters: The financing of the Conservative party

The article examines the financing of the Conservative Party in the aftermath of the 2001 general election. An examination of the party's income and expenditure shows that pre-2001 patterns remain - the Conservatives are the poorer of the two main parties but continue to be the principal recipient of corporate and in-kind donations. However, the article also demonstrates that income rose sharply in the aftermath of the change of leadership in 2003, suggesting that this change may have stimulated donations. Also, as for other parties, questions of probity continue to arise following larger donations but, like Labour, the Conservatives oppose any caps on political giving

Security for costs and the foreign resident claimant

Discusses the courts' discretion under CPR r.25.13(2)(a) to order security for costs against a claimant resident outside the Brussels regime. Analyses the wording of the rule, noting the difference between "resident" and "ordinarily resident" and the difficulties arising in cases of multiple residence. Considers whether the focus on residence could indirectly amount to discrimination. Suggests that the courts have countered this possibility by developing an additional requirement for an applicant to demonstrate potential difficulty in enforcement. Calls for the rule to be amended to reflect this development

Misunderstanding corruption and community: comparative cultural politics of corruption regulation in the Pacific

This paper will take as its empirical foundation the author’s experience of corruption and regulation in small Pacific island states. The argument is that notions of corruption and strategies for its regulation suitable for modernized societies, which lack cultural specificity and community engagement, may in fact stimulate corruption relationships in transitional cultures. The other consequence of the imposition of inappropriate definitions and regulation strategies is a profound misunderstanding of communities of dependence. In fact, corruption control can misconstrue and exacerbate economic and political dependence environments, fostering the conditions for corruption which accompany socio-economic development. Two remedies are suggested. First, corruption requires an appreciation which is ‘community-centered’, while at the same time not being neutralized by disconnected cultural relativity. Second, an enterprise theory of corruption in modernized societies and international political/commercial entities may assist in the relevant translation of global anti-corruption policies in a way which advances good governance in traditional communities. This is so when corruption is conceived as dependant on phases of modernization, and the tensions which arise when the interests of societies at different phases intersect. Corporate citizenship and compliance with anti-corrupt business practices by major corporations with a commercial interest in these transitional economies may be more beneficial than deference to uniform international codes of governance

Evaluating Collaborative Strategy for Local Partnerships in Urban Regeneration in England

The main argument in this paper is that collaboration as a means of involving different agencies into a common purpose can be the main ‘ingredient’ for the formation of a framework of a strategy, the so-called ‘collaborative strategy’. The utility of such a framework is given through the action of Citywide and Local Strategic Partnerships, which are the recent formations of partnership arrangements within the local government context. In particular, the applicability of the framework is examined in the context of urban regeneration based on policy initiatives that have been introduced over the last years. The paper also introduces a type of evaluation of collaborative strategy that is based upon specific aspects of partnership action. Despite its lack of empirical evidence it could be argued that the paper sets the scene for a framework that would be the base for partnership functioning. In this respect the testing of its applicability becomes apparent either in relation to potential fruitful policy outcomes or from the point of view that recognises significant dysfunctional elements at the operational and implementation level

Possible Russian development paths and their implications for Europe: some back-of-the-envelope musings

This chapter examines the potential implications for the European Union and for EU-Russian relations of recent developments in Russian economic policy. Its principal argument may be stated simply. A number of changes in Russian economic policy during 2003–05 augur ill for both the further growth of its core resource-exporting sectors (especially oil and gas) and the further diversification of its production and export structure. On both counts, this is bad news for European Union member states. Europe has an obvious interest in the successful development of Russia’s resource sectors. It also has a less obvious, but no less compelling, interest in the evolution of Russia’s production and export structure in the direction of greater diversification and increased production of services and more sophisticated manufactures

Circular 02/12 : college involvement in companies : consent to participate in, subscribe for or otherwise acquire shares, or securities of, companies providing education funded wholly or partly by the Council

"This Circular confirms that Further Education Corporations (Colleges) have a power to participate in, to subscribe for or otherwise acquire shares in, or securities of, companies. It sets out how the Council will deal with applications from colleges for consent required where these companies provide education that is, or will be wholly or partly funded by the Council. It also provides guidance on the process and the criteria that the Council will use to consider consent and gives Colleges who already participate or have acquired shares and securities a temporary general consent. The policies, principles and overall approach set out in the circular apply to college involvement in any company that provides education where this is funded wholly or partly by the Council. The Council has consulted with the Association of Colleges inthe preparation of this circular" -- front cover