Aligning National Interest with Trump's Business Interests: A Fair Solution to Potential Conflicts of Interest

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hrishikesh D. Vinod
Keyword(s):  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
National Interest ◽  
Business Interests

Iran’s ‘resistance economy’ faces new tests in 2021

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Election Campaign ◽  
Domestic Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Conservative Government ◽  
Supreme Leader ◽  
Presidential Election Campaign

Significance At the same time, the June 18 presidential election campaign is beginning, with top judge Ibrahim Raisi registering as a favoured candidate. Heading a high-profile anti-corruption campaign, Raisi has been a strong advocate of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s ‘resistance economy’ policy to undermine sanctions by supporting domestic production. Impacts Effective legislation to manage conflicts of interest, including of officials’ family members, will likely remain blocked. Local business interests that would benefit from more global links may have a strong voice even under a conservative government. The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps will keep a firm grip on the infrastructure sector.

scholarly journals The U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clauses: How History, Behavioral Psychology, and the Framers’ Understanding of Corruption All Require an End to President Trump’s Conflicts of Interest

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-289
Author(s):  
Don Mayer ◽  
Adam Sulkowski
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Public Office ◽  
Personal Benefit ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
Behavioral Psychology ◽  
History Of ◽  
The U.S

Abstract The two Emoluments Clauses in the U.S. Constitution forbid federal officials from accepting “any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatsoever” from foreign or domestic governments. President Donald Trump’s business interests generate numerous opportunities to use public office for his personal benefit. This article examines the history of the Emoluments Clauses and the Framers’ conception of corruption. The conflicts of interest alleged in pending emoluments lawsuits against President Trump would not be allowable in the private sector, and various plaintiffs argue that the Emoluments Clauses apply to all public officials, including the President. The President’s lawyers have claimed he is exempt from the application of these clauses and have raised numerous procedural objections, such as challenging who might have” standing” to bring a lawsuit to compel his compliance with the clauses. Out of three cases filed in 2017, one has been dismissed, while two judges have recognized that the plaintiffs have standing. In each lawsuit, the President’s lawyers insist on a conception of corruption that is quid pro quo, where only bargained for exchanges count as corruption. While the Emoluments Clauses require public officials to get Congressional permission before receiving such benefits, the President’s position is that Congress must first demand an accounting of any personal benefits, rather than the burden being on the President to ask permission. Thus far, two courts have rejected that approach, and as of this writing, further appeals can be expected.

Varieties of Nationalism in Scotland and England

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Heath ◽  
Shawna Smith
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
National Interest ◽  
The Uk ◽  
English Nationalism

This chapter shows that there is an inevitable asymmetry in the very nature and character of Scottish and English nationalism. In particular, it tries to examine the nature of unionism and nationalism in Scotland and England and the prospects for the union. Minority nationalism is the nationalism of politically subordinate groups that seek statehood. The chapter first explores three different aspects of nationalism, namely emotional attachments to Britain, perceptions of conflicts of interest between England and Scotland and constitutional preferences. It gets very different impressions of relations between England and Scotland depending on whether constitutional preferences, affective attachments or perceptions of national interest are considered. The data indicate that, whereas amongst older respondents higher education was linked with unionism, amongst the young it was accompanied by disengagement. The character and behaviour of unionists, nationalists, potential nationalists and disengaged post-nationalists, and the implications for relations between the two countries are elaborated. It is suspected that parties like the Referendum Party in 2001 and currently the UK Independence Party are the most likely to harness the potential for English nationalism and to direct it against Europe rather than against Scotland.

scholarly journals Promoting population health with public-private partnerships: Where’s the evidence?

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy A. Parker ◽  
Gustavo A. Zaragoza ◽  
Ildefonso Hernández-Aguado
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
High Potential ◽  
Public Private Partnerships ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
Promotion Activity ◽  
Health Promotion Activity

Abstract Background Although public-private partnerships have become common in the health sector, the evidence supporting their effectiveness is limited, and when the products or services provided by the private partner are harmful to health inherent conflicts of interest may be difficult to overcome. The objective of this study is to appraise the evidence describing process or effectiveness of public-private partnerships (PPPs) that aim to promote population health, and analyse how characteristics such as independence or competing interests influence the results of their evaluation. Methods We carried out a systematic search of Medline and Web of Science to identify scientific reports evaluating the process or effectiveness of PPPs that aim to promote population health. Two reviewers applied inclusion criteria, extracted and evaluated study quality. We classified PPPs according to the health problem tackled, the independence of the evaluation, and the potential for competition between business interests of the private partner and health promotion activity undertaken. We classified the conclusions of the evaluation as positive (supportive/tentatively supportive) or negative (semi-critical/critical). Results We identified 36 studies evaluating 25 PPPs. Evaluations that were favourable to the use of PPPs in health promotion were more frequently classed as “not independent” and of poor quality. On the other hand, negative evaluations were more common when the PPP involved a private partner with a high potential for competition between the health promotion activity undertaken and their financial interests. PPPs that sought to prevent non-communicable diseases were more frequently negatively evaluated compared to PPPs tackling infectious disease or other types of health problem. Almost all of the evaluations evaluated process, with only 2 papers reporting quantitative health related outcomes. Conclusions There is still a lack of sound evidence supporting the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in health promotion, and the evidence base is skewed by non-independent evaluations. Public health actors should abstain from engaging in agreements with industries whose business interests have a high potential for competition with the health promotion activity undertaken.

scholarly journals Understanding commercial actors’ engagement in policy debates on proposed e-cigarette regulation in Scotland

2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-056084
Author(s):  
Theresa Ikegwuonu ◽  
Shona Hilton ◽  
Katherine E. Smith ◽  
Christina H. Buckton ◽  
Mark Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Consultation Process ◽  
Policy Influence ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
Policy Debates ◽  
Public Health Advocacy ◽  
Proposed Regulation

IntroductionThere is growing concern about transnational tobacco corporations’ (TTCs) and other commercial actors’ involvement in e-cigarette policy development. Previous analyses suggest that TTCs used e-cigarette debates to demonstrate alignment with public health and re-gain policy influence. Less is known about the engagement of other types of commercial actors in e-cigarette policy debates.MethodsThis paper is the first to empirically analyse commercial actors’ engagement in an e-cigarette policy consultation process and to examine their views on proposed regulation. It applies mixed methods, drawing on policy consultation submissions (n=32), semi-structured interviews (n=9) and a social network analysis of website links among 32 commercial actors.ResultsThe results show that commercial actors’ positions on e-cigarette regulation aligned with business interests. TTCs, independent e-cigarette manufacturers and other non-licensed commercial actors were opposed to most aspects of potential e-cigarette regulation (except for age of sale restrictions), whereas licensed commercial actors, including pharmaceutical companies, supported more stringent regulation. While collaboration was viewed as strategically important to gain policy influence, distinct commercial interests and concerns about TTC credibility led to strategic distancing and to collaboration being largely confined to sector boundaries. In addition to reiterating arguments employed by TTCs in previous regulatory debates, commercial actors focused on highlighting the technical complexity and harm reduction potential of e-cigarettes.ConclusionAwareness of the various commercial interests and strategic positioning of commercial actors in e-cigarette policy should inform public health advocacy and policy development, including managing conflicts of interest in the context of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Article 5.3.

Czech premier’s support will back him against protests

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Member State ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Judicial System ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
Official Position ◽  
Financial Framework

Significance Widespread concern over the state of Czech democracy has been fuelled by European Commission auditors’ reports pointing to possible conflicts of interest between Babis’s official position and his business interests. The reports’ findings have further bolstered the anti-Babis protests of recent weeks, as Czech politics experiences turbulence following the European Parliament (EP) elections. Impacts Changes in the Czech judicial system align with the trend of democratic backsliding in Poland and Hungary. The country’s reputation as a reliable EU member state will suffer further setbacks, reducing its influence. The latest developments may lead to bigger cuts in EU funding for the Czech Republic in the next multiannual financial framework.

Business Interests and State Autonomy in India

2020 ◽  
pp. 115-136
Author(s):  
Rob Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
National Interest ◽  
Global Market ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Political ◽  
Private Capital ◽  
Quarter Century ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
The Rich

Given the striking increases in the wealth and stature of India’s private sector over the past quarter century, we may expect its role to have changed from that outlined The Political Economy of India (PEDI). Such a conclusion is incorrect. First, despite the considerable deregulation of the Indian economy that has taken place, state elites still enjoy significant autonomy in policymaking. Second, while industrial capital has expanded faster than the other two dominant propriety classes, the rich farmers and professionals have developed in ways that make them formidable political counterweights to industrial capital. Third, although the state elite’s vision of ‘the national interest’ has evolved toward embracing private capital and the global market, the extent of big business hegemony over public discourse and policy should not be overstated.

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