Macro-reasoning and cognitive gaps: understanding post-Soviet Russians’ communication styles.

Russians and Westerners access, process and communicate information in different ways. Whilst Westerners favour detailed analysis of subject matter, Russians tend to focus on certain components that are, in their view, significant. This disparity makes it difficult to achieve constructive dialogues between Western and Russian stakeholders contributing to cross-cultural communication problems. The author claims that the difference in the ways Russians and Westerners negotiate information is a significant cultural difference between Russia and West rather than an irritating (and in principle amenable) lack of analytical skills on the Russian partners’ part. Understanding the reasons behind the Russian-specific approaches to dealing with information would be a positive step towards a more effective cross-cultural communication, important in business situations and essential in diplomacy

Taiwan's Democracy: Towards a liberal democracy or authoritarianism?

This paper examines how Taiwan moved from being viewed as a model Asian democracy to one allegedly suffering from democratic reversal. The reasons for the declining domestic and international reputa- tion of Taiwan’s democracy are discussed. Lastly, some key political challenges facing Taiwan’s democracy are outlined

Was 2005 A Critical Election in Taiwan? Locating the Start of a New Political Era

This study applies the concept of critical elections to Taiwan’s recent political history. Instead of 2008, it is argued that 2005 deserves the title of a critical election. Politi- cal developments in 2005 laid the foundations for the Kuomintang’s return to politi- cal dominance