Economic actors and the problem of externalities : could financial markets play a role in democratic backsliding?

Purpose: Economic actors tend to exert powerful impact on socio-economic and political developments around the globe, including yielding financial and political crises in developed democracies. Approach/Methodology/Design: While a number of studies discuss the impact of finance on political and societal reality, research on the interlink between finance and democratic processes is very limited. Drawing on secondary literature and a case study of two young Central-European democracies, this paper contends a relationship between financial economy and democratic backsliding. Findings: The findings challenge the existing conventional accounts of the reversal to authoritarian politics in Poland and Hungary. Practical Implications: They also identify a mismatch between the constitutional foundations for embedding the market within the society and its institutions on the one hand, and the political-institutional reality in contemporary democracies. Originality/Value: The research provides theoretical assumptions encouraging further study on unwelcome externalities produced by financial markets.peer-reviewe

Human rights due diligence as part of corporate risk management : insights from the EU policy debate

Purpose: This paper investigates possible modalities of new EU-wide mandatory human rights due diligence (mHRDD) measures and their implications for the practice of corporate risk management. Design/Methodology/Approach: The contribution originates in a desk-based review and analysis of the EU policy debate and other relevant scholarly and stakeholder contributions. The applied research methodology includes a combination of theoretical and analytical methods. Findings: Businesses’ input pointing out the specificities of branches and suggesting best practices for implementing HRDD obligations is highly relevant for framing upcoming legislation. Proper fulfillment of HRDD obligations will, however, be definitively ascertained in court only. Compliance-oriented risk management accounting solely for the risks to the company may thus prove insufficient regarding HRDD and eventually lead to liability. Practical Implications: Given expectations of high corporate due diligence standards by investors, consumers and civil society on the one hand, and the prospective new EU HRDD measures on the other, it appears desirable for companies to take appropriate steps so as to adapt their business structures and operations for the endorsement of such new HRDD standards. Originality/Value: The contribution provides insights into mHRDD as a prospective new legal standard of care for companies operating on the EU Internal Market.peer-reviewe

Sprachliche Formen bei der Bewältigung der europäischen Wirtschafts- und Finanzkrise: Wege zur Integration oder Desintegration?

Europa ist im Werden. Doch es tut sich schwer, zu einer ihm angemessenen Sprache zu finden. Ausgangspunkt der in diesem Beitrag entwickelten Überlegungen zum Umgang der Europäischen Institutionen mit der Sprache sind einige Neologismen auf dem Gebiet der Europäischen Wirtschaftsregierung. Die analysierten sprachlichen Neuerungen stehen nicht für bekannte Formen hoheitlichen Handelns. Sie verschleiern vielmehr echte Innovationen, die zur Bewältigung der Krise möglich und als notwendig erachtet wurden. Wenn jedoch das Neue nicht treffend zur Sprache gebracht wird, misslingt die Kommunikation, korrektes Verständnis ebenso wie sachliche Kritik. Bei vielen Menschen führte dies zu einer pauschalen Ablehnung des Integrationsprozess. Mit anderen Worten, fur ein besseres Verständnis des Neuen, das sich im Prozess der Europäischen Integration ereignet, und eine sachliche kritische Auseinandersetzung mit ihm erscheint es sinnvoll, hinter die Fassaden der Worthülsen (bzw. "Begriffsmonster") zu blicken. Verdient die Leistung der Europäischen Politik nicht eine Sprache, die direkter auf die Sachen zugreift? Warum verbirgt die amtliche Sprache Europas mehr als sie offenlegt? Dieser Beitrag ist ein Versuch, auf diese Fragen einzugehen

The End of the Caliphate State? The Metin Kaplan Case

Against Metin Kaplan, self-proclaimed head of the Caliphate State, proceedings were taken up by the Oberlandesgericht Dsseldorf in February 2000. The 'emir of the believers and caliph of Muslims' had been charged with incitement for the murder of his opponent Halil Ibrahim Sofu in Berlin in 1997, and with running a criminal organization. The process may very well mark the end of most radical Islamic group which has developed in the German diaspora of Turkish migrants

Eigennütziger Geber oder Retter in der Not?

EIGENNÜTZIGER GEBER ODER RETTER IN DER NOT? Eigennütziger Geber oder Retter in der Not? / Schiffauer, Leonie (Rights reserved) ( -

Troublesome convergences

Post-9/11 developments in the UK and Germany contrast. On the one hand, in the UK, as a consequence of the 'War on Terror', a group which had been promised participation in a multicultural society has been increasingly stigmatized and branded with 'otherness'. On the other hand, in Germany, groups that had previously been 'outside' as 'foreigners' are being selectively accepted into German society, but the groups which are excluded from this process (and even more branded with 'otherness') are notably the Muslims. These different trajectories led to different reactions: embitterment, disappointment and anger in the UK, and cynicism and resignation in Germany. An overall convergence of policies toward Islam is observable not only in Germany and the UK but throughout Europe. It seems to be more related to the construction of a collective European identity than to Islam itself

The Enforcement of Non-Discrimination Law and Sexual Minorities’ Rights in the EU: The Cases of Hungary and Poland

The principle of equality and the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation are enshrined in the EU Treaties. A strong baseline is also laid down in secondary EU legislation. However, the impact of the respective provisions is constrained in two ways: by challenges to their enforcement and, regarding the secondary EU law, by limitations in their scope to employment. This paper takes stock of the EU non-discrimination law with respect to sexual minorities’ rights as well as the enforcement mechanisms applied by the EU to safeguard implementation in Member States. To contextualize the findings, we analyse the cases of Hungary and Poland where measures adopted by state and local authorities have led to decisive steps by the EU, including withholding financial transfers. The paper identifies systemic weaknesses in existing enforcement mechanisms and concludes by pointing to institutional reform which could address them

Global shifts, theoretical shifts: changing geographies of religion

10.1177/0309132510362602Progress in Human Geography346755-77