Compressible fluids interacting with a linear-elastic shell

We study the Navier--Stokes equations governing the motion of an isentropic compressible fluid in three dimensions interacting with a flexible shell of Koiter type. The latter one constitutes a moving part of the boundary of the physical domain. Its deformation is modeled by a linearized version of Koiter's elastic energy. We show the existence of weak solutions to the corresponding system of PDEs provided the adiabatic exponent satisfies $\gamma>\frac{12}{7}$ ($\gamma>1$ in two dimensions). The solution exists until the moving boundary approaches a self-intersection. This provides a compressible counterpart of the results in [D. Lengeler, M. \Ruzicka, Weak Solutions for an Incompressible Newtonian Fluid Interacting with a Koiter Type Shell. Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 211 (2014), no. 1, 205--255] on incompressible Navier--Stokes equations

The Eastern European Fertility Crisis

The Eastern European Fertility Crisis by Sebastian D. Zgirski In the years following the 1989 collapse of communism in Eastern and Central Europe, demographers noticed a sharp decline in total fertility rates in many of the countries of the region. While this trend is consistent with a general worldwide trend, it does seem to be even more pronounced in the region, with many countries having fertility rates significantly below replacement. This puzzled demographers as in previous years the region was considered to have some of the highest fertility rates in Europe. Additionally, there is worry that with fertility rates below replacement, these countries with, still, relatively new economies will not be able to sustain themselves. Many scholars have examined this issue, pointing to the various social and economic changes linked with post-communism as explanations for the phenomenon. In particular, scholars point to the Second Demographic Transition theory and Becker’s Economic Crisis Theory as possible explanations. For this paper, I have gathered and examined literature on this topic to learn more about this phenomenon. I have also examined information on the social and economic conditions in countries such as Poland, Russia, Hungary, the Ukraine, and Romania, and synthesized that information to come to conclusions on how post-communist societal conditions in Eastern Europe have influenced the region’s sudden decline in total fertility rates

Accountability and ideology:The case of a German university under the Nazi regime

This article studies accountability demands at an educational institution following extreme changes of societal conditions, as observed in Nazi Germany (1933–1945). We refer to the Handelshochschule Leipzig founded as the first free-standing business school in Germany to show how the Nazi doctrine made its way into this university, affecting academics on both the organizational and the individual levels. As political accountability became a dominant governance instrument, most academics submitted to this new accountability regime. They became subjects of accountability, who can only be understood by the norms that were imposed on them. The change in accountability demands created considerable challenges for individuals, and, ex post, it may be impossible to ascertain their moral attitudes and how they attempted to cope with ensuing ethical dilemmas

Methodological reflections on historical case study and interpretive accounting research

Commenting on our study “Accountability and ideology: The case of a German university under the Nazi regime", published in 2020 in Accounting History, Fülbier recently outlined a research agenda on the manifold ways in which the Nazi doctrine affected institutions of higher education, going beyond the scope of our original article. With this reply, we seek to reflect on research considerations emanating from such an agenda, relating to (i) conducting historical case-based research, (ii) questions of ontology and epistemology in interpretive accounting research, and (iii) the notion of what constitutes accounting in a specific research context. We hope that our reply, along with Fülbier’s commentary, inspires further research on accounting’s role in totalitarian regimes

The Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Social Media on the Strategy Formulation Process

The current theory on strategy formulation is based significantly on environmental analysis and leveraging strategic capability. There is limited understanding of how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social media strategies could develop the strategy formulation to improve strategic outcomes. The input into the strategic formulation process does not tend to take account of customers’ inclination for CSR practices and policies. This is particularly important for consumers who can spurn organisations that do not incorporate ethical practices in their core values. The paper aims to show that social media is an inclusive tool, because of the duplex communication techniques that enhance it, and CSR is complementary to building a robust strategic planning process. The methodology is a qualitative case study using a reflective perspective based on a complete participant role. The results demonstrate that there are challenges in operating a strategic planning process that is situated in an uncertain, volatile and dynamic business environment; it requires an integrated partnership between the inter-organisational actors and other stakeholders. Social media is the integrator of resources and CSR helps to build relationships, acting as a reinforcer of trust

Xenophobia and the challenge of regional integration in Africa: understanding three cardinal dynamics

While the literature on xenophobia views the phenomenon as a major challenge to the regional integration of Africa, the key nuances about how xenophobia affects regional integration, and how that could be tackled, have not been adequately captured. Addressing this knowledge gap, we examine the scholarly constructs surrounding citizenship and economic participation, as enablers of xenophobia and demonstrate how the state is called into these negotiations, and how that affects regional and continental integration. Methodologically, this paper adopts a thematic qualitative approach relying on relevant literature and theories from history, political science, migration studies, peace and conflict, international relations, sociology, and development studies. The analysis offers a three- pronged argument that xenophobia (i) generates new discourses of ‘othering’ or belonging, (ii) promotes perceptions of betrayal and retaliation in foreign policy framing or ad-hoc actions and/or attacks on non-nationals, and (iii) redefines rights of occupancy or territorial belonging. The analysis of these dynamics offers valuable knowledge on security, development, and regional integration of Africa from in-country ‘xenophobia studies’ to both in-country and continental/regional level understanding of xenophobia