Chinese Power and the Idea of a Responsible State in a Changing World Order

In this Centre of Gravity paper, Professor Emeritus Rosemary Foot, Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford, outlines the evolution of China’s engagement with the dominant global norms of responsible behaviour. Professor Foot notes that scholars and policy makers have long been preoccupied with ascertaining whether China is intent on overturning or supporting the dominant norms of global order. Maoist China appeared as a revolutionary challenger to global order norms, whereas Deng Xiaoping’s China came predominantly to be seen as adapting to international society and beginning to act as a ‘responsible state’ in world politics. This view of China was reinforced not only by its behaviour but also by the academic understanding of how global norms could act to shape the responses of a state concerned about its international image. Under President Xi Jinping we witness a China more willing to determine for itself what represents ‘responsible behaviour’ in global politics. This is reinforced by Beijing’s sense that the West is in decline while it is economically and politically resurgent. We have moved into a strongly enabling environment for China. Professor Foot argues that countries outside of China need to develop a more nuanced understanding of Beijing’s relationship with dominant global norms. On some policy issues, China seeks a larger voice and role within existing institutions and thus does not constitute a major challenge. In other areas, it is working to aid the decline in certain normative values, arguing that it is the strong and developed state that is the best guarantor of world order and the security of the individual. The West should act to counter China’s arguments where they are weak, inconsistent and retrogressive, and reinvigorate its support for the values of human rights and democracy

Research Brief No. 17 - Rethinking Retirement

Current pension policies in Canada do not take into account rising life expectancy. A Canadian worker in 1950 who retired at age 65 could expect to live 4 years in retirement. In 2006, a Canadian retiring at age 65 can now expect to have 16 years in retirement. Older workers can be a valuable resource with their years of experience that can be used to train younger replacement workers through the use of partial retirement schemes. Since many older workers would prefer to keep working after age 65, employers would benefit by offering flexible retirement schemes, such as a reduced work week. Age discrimination and rigid pension and retirement plans can force many older workers to stop working before they are ready. Public policy should make it easier for older workers to remain in the workforce, creating flexible policies that help workers at all ages to succeed

The Time is Right: Voluntary Reduced Worktime and Workforce Demographics

ABSTRACT This applied demography paper assembles diverse literature in demography, economics, sociology, and industrial relations to examine the emergence of intergenerational conflict within labour force groups. First the paper defines the generations based on demographic and economic considerations and reviews the existing literature on intergenerational conflict. Second, using Canadian labour market data, it examines the situation facing groups in the labour force. The paper then reviews potential workplace solutions. The conclusion outlines a practical workforce policy that can ameliorate many of the concerns of younger workers and address the trend toward intergenerational conflict while also taking into account current fiscal and workplace realities. Key words: workforce demographics, reduced worktime, intergenerational conflict. RÉSUMÉ Ce document sur la démographie appliquée assemble une littérature diverse en démographie, économie, sociologie et relations industrielles afin d'examiner la manifestation de conflit entre les générations à l'intérieur des groupes de population active. D'abord, les auteurs définissent les générations en se basant sur des considérations démographiques et économiques et revoient la littérature actuelle sur le conflit entre les générations. Ensuite, ils examinent la situation devant laquelle se trouvent certains groupes dans la population active en utilisant des données du marché canadien du travail. En dernier lieu, ils revoient quelques solutions potentielles en milieu de travail. Leur conclusion présente une politique pratique de population active pouvant améliorer plusieures inquiétudes des jeunes travaillants et pouvant aussi adresser cette tendance de conflit entre les générations. Et ceci, tout en tenant compte des réalités actuelles de fiscalisation et de milieu du travail

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Evolving norms of protection: China, Libya and the problem of intervention in armed conflict

This article examines the influence of civilian protection norms on China’s response to the 2011 crisis in Libya. It argues that Responsibility to Protect—an emerging norm commonly associated with the Libyan case—did not play a major role in China’s abstention on Resolution 1973 (2011) authorizing international intervention in Libya. For China, Responsibility to Protect is merely a concept and could not serve as the basis for intervention. Instead, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, as a normative foundation for civilian protection endorsed by China, offers a more appropriate lens for understanding China’s vote. Protection of Civilians, however, does not accommodate China’s unprecedented evacuation of Chinese nationals from Libya. This operation proceeded from a third logic of Protection of Nationals Abroad, which poses dilemmas for China’s strict adherence to the principles of sovereignty and non-interference and brings to bear domestic interests and notions of protection