Toward an IT Agenda

The state of the information technology discipline is explored. A point of departure is a depiction of the IT field in a computing space along with computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, and information systems. This examination motivated a proposed distinctive anchoring theme for the IT discipline as deployment and configuration. Recommendations are made for advancing the research component of an IT agenda by seizing on jurisdictional vacancies, abstracting from professional practice, and drawing upon theoretical results from the systems sciences, serving as a reference discipline for IT. Five IT research thrust areas are proposed: IT artifacts, enterprise architectural infrastructure, interaction models, system performance, and domain induction. Appendices provide context by discussing viewpoints on the IS-IT relationship, perspectives on the role of artifacts in IS-IT research, and observations on the perceived standing of IT as a discipline or sub-discipline

EU at the UN: The Effects of its New Rights Agenda on International Social Structures

This study seeks to determine the effect of the EU’s human rights agenda on the international institution of human rights, and the resulting effect on interstate society. To do this, the study examines the way the EU has promoted new norms of gender and the family at the ECOSOC third committee. Using Barry Buzan’s concept of vanguard theory of international social structures, it identifies a trend toward more contested norms that require coercive measures to promote as human rights. As illuminated by the vanguard theory, this is likely to result in the weakening human rights as an international institution, and precipitate a more pluralist international society

ICT Research, the New Economy, and the Evolving Discipline of Economics: Back to the Future?

Economics-related ICT research has moved from the fringes of the discipline to penetrate all of its branches. It is, therefore, not a separate economics sub-discipline. It is also unlikely to become part of an 'ICT or Internet Research' proto-discipline. Instead, it should be seen as only one part of a bigger agenda toward a proper 'information and knowledge economics' and possibly a future proto-discipline of a 'unified theory of information and knowledge' or a meta-discipline of information sciences. This is the post-print version of a short article for the Special Issue: ICT Research and Disciplinary Boundaries: Is “Internet Research” a Virtual Field, a Proto-Discipline, or Something Else?”(Guest Editor: Nancy K. Baym), Information Society, Volume 21, No. 4, 2005, pp. 317-320. See: http://www.indiana.edu/~tisj

Economic Cooperation in ASEAN and the Rise of China

Over the past decade, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has shifted from its original focus on regional peace and stability toward embracing a progressively economics-dominated agenda. A multitude of initiatives concerning cooperation in the areas of trade and finance have been launched. At the 2003 ASEAN Summit in Bali, ASEAN leaders even declared the goal of establishing an ASEAN Economic Community by 2020. This paper discusses two factors that have contributed to ASEAN's increasing focus on economic cooperation: (1) the Asian financial crisis, and (2) the emergence of China as a major international and economic power. It is argued that these determinants have paved the way for closer economic cooperation within the region despite the great heterogeneity and conflicting interests of the ASEAN member countries

Reflections After Seattle

The WTO cannot operate in isolation from the concerns of the world in which it exists. Our ability to advance trade, build a stronger system, and move forward in a new round will hinge on our ability to make simultaneous progression on these issues. How do we do this? First, we must move toward a more collective leadership, one that reflects the reality of a multipolar world and especially the emergence of developing-country powers. Second, we need to look at the policy challenges we face as pieces of an interconnected puzzle. Third, we need a new forum for the management of these complex issues, one that is truly representative of the new global realities and that brings world leaders together to tackle an expanded policy agenda and the new challenges of globalization. Fourth, there is a need for a clear mandate from leaders to promote a common global strategy and common global actions

Linking urban consumers and rural farmers in India: A comparison of traditional and modern food supply chains

"Food supply chains are being transformed in a number of developing countries due to widespread changes in urban food demand. To better anticipate the impact of this transformation and thus assist in the design of appropriate policies, it is important to understand the changes that are occurring in these supply chains. In a case study of India, we find that overall urban consumption is increasing; the urban food basket is shifting away from staples toward high-value products; and modern market channels (modern retail, food processing, and the food service industry) are on the rise. We document differing practices in traditional and modern food supply chains and identify an agenda for future research." from authors' abstractAgricultural marketing, Market transformation, Rural-urban linkages, Globalization, Markets,

Civil Litigation Reform in the Trump Era: Threats and Opportunities Searching for Salvageable Ideas in FICALA

The Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017 (FICALA) was introduced in Congress less than three weeks after Donald Trump took office as President. Supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and opposed by consumer advocates and civil rights groups, the bill passed the House of Representatives one month after its introduction on a party-line vote of 220 to 201, with 220 Republicans and zero Democrats voting in favor. FICALA stalled in the Senate and, as of this writing, does not appear to be moving toward passage in its current form. But reform ideas have a way of reappearing, particularly when driven by a constituency with much at stake and plenty of resources to push an agenda. Corporations that face mass litigation are a powerful voice for change, and class actions and multidistrict litigation are prime targets. Moreover, the quick vote in the House shows that there is at least some political appetite for the proposed reforms. In anticipation of the reincarnation of the bill in some form, it is worth exploring whether it contains any good ideas

The Russian dilemma: identity construction toward the BRICS

Russia faces an internal dilemma while projecting its identity toward the BRICS. The literature on the country identity suggests that it manifests both an imperial and great powerness self-perception, but in this case, Russia is dealing with a group with a solid postcolonial set of values. The poststructuralist discourse analysis was the primary method for analyzing the country's instrumentalization of that dichotomy and the outcomes for Russian identity construction. The gathered data consists of the public and official discourses of both Russia and the BRICS during its regular and extraordinary meetings. It was possible to indicate that the country shows evidence of an attempt to engage its objectives in the group's agenda by the projection of its identity toward the group. The study also shows that Russia is under the effects of Othering with the BRICS. In which the contact with the group identity is also shaping the country's identity. The conclusion is that Russia is developing a pragmatic approach to postcolonial narratives to advance its agenda, but the country was not able to construct a solid leadership in the BRICS.https://www.ester.ee/record=b5439283*es

No Time to Lose for the EU: Overcoming the Accession Stalemate in the Western Balkans

EU enlargement policy toward the Western Balkans has never been as contested as today. French President Emmanuel Macron has made reform of the EU accession process a precondition to opening membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia. While the current stalemate severely undermines the EU’s reform and stabilization agenda in the region, it also offers an opportunity for an overhaul of the accession process, which is long overdue