Stochastic networks with multiple stable points

This paper analyzes stochastic networks consisting of a set of finite capacity sites where different classes of individuals move according to some routing policy. The associated Markov jump processes are analyzed under a thermodynamic limit regime, that is, when the networks have some symmetry properties and when the number of nodes goes to infinity. An intriguing stability property is proved: under some conditions on the parameters, it is shown that, in the limit, several stable equilibrium points coexist for the empirical distribution. The key ingredient of the proof of this property is a dimension reduction achieved by the introduction of two energy functions and a convenient mapping of their local minima and saddle points. Networks with a unique equilibrium point are also presented.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/009117907000000105 the Annals of Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aop/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Analysis of loss networks with routing

This paper analyzes stochastic networks consisting of finite capacity nodes with different classes of requests which move according to some routing policy. The Markov processes describing these networks do not, in general, have reversibility properties, so the explicit expression of their invariant distribution is not known. Kelly's limiting regime is considered: the arrival rates of calls as well as the capacities of the nodes are proportional to a factor going to infinity. It is proved that, in limit, the associated rescaled Markov process converges to a deterministic dynamical system with a unique equilibrium point characterized by a nonstandard fixed point equation.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/105051606000000466 in the Annals of Applied Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aap/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Ousted from the Bench? Judicial Departures in Consolidating Democracies

This paper deals with judicial departures in consolidating democracies. It investigates to what extent and under what conditions judges in those contexts are not able to decide on their departures themselves but are rather forced to leave due to pressure from the elected branches. We undertook a cross-regional study of individual judicial departures in six consolidating democracies with elected presidents, three of them located in Latin America (Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay) and three in sub-Saharan Africa (Benin, Madagascar, and Senegal). We developed a unique data set containing information on 143 high-court judges in office since democratisation. We classified judicial departures as due and undue, and using a survival model we estimated the impact of institutional, political, personal, and contextual factors. The results indicate that undue judicial departures occur regardless of the region, but are most probable under the rule of politically powerful executives, and where there are lower levels of democracy and development

The Gulf Crisis and The Fragmentation of the Middle East: The Policies of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan

In mid-1990, tensions were rapidly growing in that part of the Middle East now generally referred to as the Gulf. The immediate issue was Iraq\u27s claim that other oil producers in the area were exceeding agreed quotas and therefore keeping oil prices inordinately low. By July, a sharp confrontation had developed between Iraq and Kuwait. Baghdad not only accused its smaller neighbor of quota violations but also of having encroached upon Iraq\u27s own oil resources. With the encouragement of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Iraqi and Kuwaiti representatives met in Jeddah at the end of the month. By then, Iraqi demands had blossomed into clear territorial claims as well as an insistence that Kuwait forgive a multi-billion dollar debt incurred by Baghdad during the eight-year war it launched against Iran in 1981. The Jeddah talks collapsed in less than twenty-four hours with no movement toward agreement. Meanwhile, Iraq\u27s autocratic president, Saddam Hussein, amassed thousands of troops on the Kuwaiti border. Most observers remained calmly certain that the sabre-rattling would lead to no more than further talks and some eventual accommodation whereby Kuwait would pay its way out of the crisis, either in cash or possibly through some minor territorial adjustment. On August 2, Saddam surprised everyone. Iraq invaded Kuwait in massive force, initially using the transparently false claim that it was responding to a local revolution. The tiny Sheikhdom was quickly conquered. Baghdad soon announced its annexation. Shockwaves coursed aro nd the globe in the wake of these events. The Arab World lapsed into initial paralysis which soon yielded to divisions as governments assessed their options and political pundits as well as the proverbial man-on-the­street took positions. Global opinion generally condemned Iraq, though at this level too there was obvious initial uncertainty over what action might be taken. The United States emerged as the leading force behind negative international reaction. The outline of a wide International Coalition calling for Baghdad\u27s withdrawal from Kuwait soon crystallized. The U.N. Security Council imposed a trade embargo against Iraq and the measure was enforced by American and European navies. Thousands of U.S. troops were rushed to Saudi Arabia. where they were joined by Egyptian, Moroccan, Syrian, British and French forces. Over the following months these were augmented to various degrees by military units contributed by a number of additional countries while yet other states extended various other types of support. Saddam vowed that Kuwait\u27s annexation was irreversible but called for an international conference to resolve all major outstanding Middle East problems, which in his view not only meant the issue of Kuwait but also Israel\u27s occupation of Palestine and presence in south Lebanon as well as Syria\u27s involvement in Lebanon. As though to emphasize its inflexibility, Bagdad in effect took several thousand foreigners hostage by forbidding their exit from Iraq or occupied Kuwait . Suspecting that this might be the case, Cairo Papers altered its publication schedule in the early fall of 1990 to make room for the present issue.https://fount.aucegypt.edu/faculty_book_chapters/1903/thumbnail.jp

Summum ius, summa iniuria: On the ambiguity of law and mercy in ecclesiastical law

Eine strikte Rechtsanwendung kann im Einzelfall zu Ungerechtigkeit führen, was im Kirchenrecht zu vermeiden ist, da es auf das Seelenheil der Gläubigen ausgerichtet ist. Das Kirchenrecht kennt das Grundprinzip der aequitas canonica, der kanonischen Billigkeit, die sich charakterisieren lässt als durch Barmherzigkeit abgemildertes striktes Recht. Auf diese Weise sollen Recht und Barmherzigkeit auf angemessene Weise verbunden und reiner Rechts- positivismus einerseits sowie Rechtsunsicherheit und Willkür andererseits vermieden werden. Dazu bedient sich das Kirchenrecht diverser Flexibilitätsinstrumente, die in diesem Beitrag zu- nächst erläutert werden. Aequitas canonica erschöpft sich aber nicht darin, sondern durchdringt als dynamisches Grundprinzip das kirchliche Recht, was anhand von Beispielen dargelegt wird. Die Ambiguität von Recht und Barmherzigkeit hat im kirchlichen Strafrecht besondere Relevanz, was anschließend thematisiert wird. Am Schluss dieses Beitrags steht die Frage, ob die vorge- stellten Wege tatsächlich einen Beitrag zu einer angemessenen Verbindung von Recht und Barmherzigkeit und damit zu einer gerechten Rechtsanwendung leisten können.A strict application of the law can lead to the injustice in individual cases, which is to be avoided in canon law, as it is directed to the salvation of souls. Canon law recognizes the basic principle of canonical equity, which can be characterized as strict law tempered by mercy. In this way, law and mercy can be properly combined to avoid mere legal positivism on the one hand and legal uncertainty and arbitrariness on the other. For this purpose, canon law has var- ious instruments of flexibility, which will be explained in this article. Canonical equity is not lim- ited to this, however, but permeates canon law as a dynamic basic principle, which will be illus- trated by means of examples. The ambiguity of law and mercy has particular relevance in penal law, which will be subsequently discussed. At the end of this article, the question will be raised whether the ways presented can actually contribute to an appropriate combination of law and mercy and thus to a just application of the law