Democracy over power? The democratic decision-making process in the case of the attempted privatization of Estonia’s power production

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-373
Author(s):  
Anna Khakee
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
Economic Decisions ◽  
The Us ◽  
Us Government

The suspense-filled attempted partial privatization of the Narva Power Plants in the neo-liberal darling Estonia involved a rich cast, from trade unions and local scientists, via Estonian courts and ombudsmen to international consulting firms, major global banks and the US government. More important, a detailed single case study on the democratic decision-making process in this privatization case makes it possible to go beyond common generalizations regarding the consequences of neo-liberalism for democratic processes. It shows that purported proponents of economic neo-liberalism such as the US government sometimes use their arguments to advance the narrow business interests of politically well-connected firms. Established private firms can behave in a more rent-seeking manner than publicly owned, ex-communist companies. Liberal economic principles of open competition and a level playing-field are at times used by actors in the democratic process to question top-down, opaque economic decisions.

scholarly journals Delegation Process of Virtual Countries: From Non-State Actors To State Actors

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-59
Author(s):  
Park Youn Jung
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Regime Theory ◽  
Domain Names ◽  
The Us ◽  
Us Government ◽  
State Actors ◽  
Country Code

The identity of each nation on the Internet is represented through country code top-level domain names (ccTLDs). This article uses regime theory to describle the process of delegating ccTLDs, also known as virtual countries. Initially, non-state actors appointed by the emperor of virtual countries, Jon Postel, administered the virtual countries. There was no challenge from state actors until the ICANN regime was created by the US government in 1998. Unlike other international regine, the ICANN 'regime' recognizes non-state actors as decision makers while state actors as advisors for the virtual countries in their decision-making process. This has often led to conflicts within the national regime of many virtual countries. This study found that more and more state actors have expressed their willingness and interests in administering their virtual countries. Governments have started to emerge as a threatening power to the nbon-state actors of the virtual regime as a competitive power in managing the virtual countries.

Did Groupthink or Polythink Derail the 2016 Raqqa Offensive?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasey Barr ◽  
Alex Mintz
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Study Analysis ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
The Us ◽  
Tactical Decisions

This chapter examines the effect of group dynamics on the 2016 decision within the administration of President Barack Obama to lead the international coalition in a mission to liberate Raqqa, Syria, from the Islamic State. The authors show that whereas the groupthink syndrome characterized the decision-making process of the US-led coalition’s decision to attack Raqqa, it was polythink that characterized the decision-making dynamics both in the US-led coalition and within the inner circle of Obama’s own foreign policy advisors. Through case-study analysis, the authors illustrate that groupthink is more likely in strategic decisions, whereas polythink is more likely in tactical decisions.

Radicals and Rebels

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Dauvergne
Keyword(s):  
September 11 ◽  
War On Terrorism ◽  
Business Associations ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
State Security ◽  
Environmental Ngos ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Us ◽  
Us Government ◽  
History Of

This chapter adds to the book’s understanding of the shifting nature and great challenges confronting environmentalism, especially more radical strands. A glance at the history of Greenpeace reveals sharp differences as the organization was forming in the 1970s; even today the activism of Paul Watson, who left Greenpeace to spearhead the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, draws the ire of Greenpeace leaders. Since the war on terrorism took root after September 11, 2001, radical activists such as Watson have been increasingly marginalized, with the US government even declaring him an “eco-terrorist.” As this chapter notes, though, many environmentalists who challenge state and business interests face even greater threats, with hundreds murdered over the past two decades. State security agencies are not the only group sidelining radical environmentalists, however; so are business associations, media outlets, and mainstream environmental NGOs.

A Framework and Model for Assessing the Design Point Performance, Off-Design Point Performance, Control, Economics and Risks of Brayton Helium Gas Turbine Cycles for Generation IV Nuclear Power Plants

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold Gad-Briggs ◽  
Pericles Pilidis ◽  
Theoklis Nikolaidis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Design Point ◽  
Load Following ◽  
Gen Iv ◽  
Cycle Efficiency

A framework – NuTERA (Nuclear Techno-Economic and Risk Assessment) has been developed to set out the requirements for evaluating Generation IV (Gen IV) Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) at the design conceptual stage. The purpose of the framework is to provide guidelines for future tools that are required to support the decision-making process on the choice of Gen IV concepts and cycle configurations. In this paper, the underpinning of the framework has been demonstrated to enable the creation of an analyses tool, which evaluates the design of an NPP that utilises helium closed Brayton gas turbine cycles. The tool at the broad spectrum focuses on the component and cycle design, Design Point (DP) and Off-Design Point (ODP) performance, part power and load following operations. Specifically, the design model has been created to provide functionalities that look at the in-depth sensitivities of the design factors and operation that affect the efficiency of an NPP such as temperature and pressure ratios, inlet cycle temperatures, component efficiencies, pressure losses. The ODP performance capabilities include newly derived component maps for the reactor, intercooler and recuperator for long term Off-Design (OD) operation. With regard to short term OD, which is typically driven by changes in ambient conditions, the ability to analyse the cycle load following capabilities are possible. An economic model has also been created, which calculates the component costs and the baseline economic evaluation. An incorporated risk model quantifies the performance, operational, financial and design impact risks. However, the tool is able to optimise the NPP cycle configuration based on the best economics using the Levelised Unit Electricity Cost (LUEC) as a measure. The tool has been used to demonstrate a typical decision-making process on 2 Gen IV helium closed gas turbine cycles, which apply to the Gas-cooled Fast Reactors (GFRs) and Very-High Temperature Reactors (VHTRs). The cycles are the Simple Cycle Recuperator (SCR) and Intercooled Cycle Recuperator (ICR). The tool was able to derive the most efficient cycle configurations for the ICR (53% cycle efficiency) and SCR (50% cycle efficiency). Based on these efficiency figures, the baseline LUEC ($/MWh) for the year 2020 is $62.13 for the ICR and $61.84 for the SCR. However, the inclusion of the cost of contingencies due to risks and the subsequent economic optimisation resulted in a cost of $69.70 and $69.80 for the ICR and SCR respectively.

US Labour and Management Fight It Out in Post-1954 Guatemala

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-549
Author(s):  
CHARLES D. BROCKETT
Keyword(s):  
United Fruit Company ◽  
Labour Movement ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
The Us ◽  
Additional Challenge ◽  
Us Government ◽  
Half Decade

AbstractThe differing perspectives and actions of US government, business and labour towards the Guatemalan government and Guatemalan trade unionists themselves in the half-decade or so following the overthrow of the Arbenz administration in 1954 are the focus of this study. Few areas were more important to the US project for Guatemala following the Castillo Armas invasion than helping the Guatemalans to create a ‘free’ and ‘democratic’ labour movement – and few areas would prove more frustrating. Part of the problem was the intransigent stance of Guatemalan elites. An additional challenge was strong opposition from the major US-based companies operating in Guatemala, most notably the United Fruit Company and its affiliates. This work contests interpretations that regard US policy towards countries like Guatemala at the time as simply beholden to business interests or as seeking domination. Rather, as Washington's interest in the transition diminished, officials in the US embassy and representatives of US labour in Guatemala were left isolated, unable to fulfil their vision for a democratic labour movement in the teeth of such opposition.

Professional Career Breakthrough and Its Determinants

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-44
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Biegańska
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Labor Market ◽  
Growth Factors ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
Continuous Education ◽  
Professional Career

Changes in the modern labor market and changes in human motives resulting from the development in the course of life, contribute to the profound changes in their careers.  It is necessary to continuous education and openness to new experiences.  The presented article includes a  theoretical discussion on determinants of decision‑making process concerning a  career breakthrough. The author formulates the concept of career breakthrough and reviews empirical research into the tendency to make changes in the course of one’s career with particular emphasis on subjective causes. There are also important growth factors, environmental, individuality – environment. Also included is the role of trade unions and the preferred type of career.

Rooting a new event in its place: the case of Festa Templária, Tomar, Portugal

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 324-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hermínia Sol ◽  
Marisa P. de Brito ◽  
João Pinto Coelho ◽  
Luís Mota Figueira ◽  
Christopher Pratt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The City ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose With fierce competition in capturing tourists, it is crucial that destinations be prepared to adapt and to refresh their event portfolio. The purpose of this paper is to look into the decision-making process that led to the development of a new festival in a middle-sized city, Tomar, in Portugal. Design/methodology/approach This study analyses the creation process of the Knights Templar Festival, in Tomar, a new event focusing on the Templar history of the city. A retrospective outlook on the evolution of the event is given. Primary data were collected via quantitative survey analysis and semi-structured interviews. The theoretical scope is events and placemaking. Findings The strengths and weaknesses of the region influenced the conception and setting up of this particular event. This awareness is important for cities in meeting the challenges and opportunities that event portfolio diversification calls for. Research limitations/implications This paper helps us to understand the motives and challenges in establishing a new event in the city, through the analysis of a single case study of a European middle-sized city. Simultaneously, it is a longitudinal in-depth case of the first editions of a new historically focused event. Practical implications Several practical implications can be derived to the case of Tomar. Overall, it is key that cities align the focus of new events with the city’s identity (as Tomar did). Originality/value This paper presents an in-depth and longitudinal case study, from the moment of the creation of a new event to its fourth edition, mapping the decision-making process, highlighting the learning curve of the decision makers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document