No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century
... Even though in the 80s and 90s there was extensive research on TUIs, there has been a research gap in user-assigned or customizable RCs in this last decade. As Friedman (2006) suggested, "the World is flat", alluding to the idea that the interconnectivity of various societies and cultures on the Earth is increasing, while differences are decreasing. It is clear that technology, specifically handheld technology, is 'flattening the world' (ibid.), ...
Remote controls have seen limited evolution compared to the rapid advancements in Home Appliances (HAs), often constrained on their versatility of controlling multiple HAs. The Tangible Universal Remote Interface (TURI) prototype is deployed to conduct an empirical user study, with the primary focus on examining the mental models and behaviours of our participants. Participants allocate a set of eight functions to each of the TURI's Interaction Elements (IEs)-five buttons, a rotational IE, and a shake IE-for a wide range of HAs. This procedure progresses through three separate stages, each defined by differing limitations regarding the accessibility of function templates and the tangible remote. The findings indicate that spatially-opposite IEs, along with the Centre Button and the Shake IE buttons, can be grouped to allocate opposite functions. The rotational IE revealed significant insights, including notable discrepancies in participants' perspectives on the direction of rotation for identical functions across different HAs and diverse functions within the same HA; being a more complex IE also enhanced intuitiveness by analogously replicating original HA function manipulations. Based on these findings, a series of 17 guidelines, categorised into five distinct groups from various perspectives-HAs, IE on its own, TURI's IEs collectively, user-centred design, and modular applications-have been developed to aid designers in the creation of user-centred and modular TURIs.
... For China and the United States, globalization brings not only market opening and optimization of resource allocation, but also the formation of transnational production chains. In his book, The World Is Flat, Thomas L. Friedman pointed out that the rapid development of science and technology and the integration of the global economy have blurred geographical boundaries, and enterprises can easily find areas with low labor costs for production around the world [4]. This has created the conditions for the transfer of many low-skilled jobs. ...
The background of employment research in China and the United States stems from the impact of globalization and technological progress on the labor market. Close economic, technological, and trade ties between the two countries have led to interlinked employment structures and unemployment rates. Through the method of literature review, this paper discusses employment problems in China and the United States. The study found that China's industrialization and urbanization have intensified competition for jobs, while the United States faces automation and outsourcing challenges in traditional industries. In addition, China mainly faces the adjustment of labor structure under the economic transformation, while the United States suffers from the income polarization caused by industrial hollowing and technological development. Therefore, flexible policy adjustment and international cooperation are the keys to solving the employment problem.
... Despite the claims that globalization has led to a flat world (Friedman 2005), geographical distance clearly dominates most aspects of the global economy (Brakman and van Marrewijk 2008). Evidence shows that economic activities in developed and developing countries continue to be clustered in space (Rosenthal and Strange 2020), and colocated firms tend to influence each other and have more similar characteristics. ...
The aim of this article is to exploit an innovative spatial econometric approach to map and study the evolving patterns of industrial districts (IDs). The procedure can be classified as a k‐means cluster‐wise regression procedure and is designed to detect homogeneous areas of subcontracting activity. These spatially contiguous aggregations of subcontractors are identified in terms of production function homogeneity and are defined as spatial regimes. Using this procedure, it is possible to detect two important sources of agglomeration economies that are commonly associated with the presence of an industrial district. The methodology is tested on a sample of Italian micro and small‐sized subcontracting firms operating in the footwear industry, showing its effectiveness in identifying the most commonly known IDs in this sector. Most ID regimes are persistent over time, despite the high turnover rates in the local subcontracting population after the 2008 financial crisis. These results can be explained by the presence of locally rooted competencies and context‐specific knowledge bases that persist despite the changing actors operating in the locality. Our evidence also shows that location in an ID does not necessarily entail benefits in terms of performance for subcontracting firms.
... 4. Personalization and Adaptation: Digital storytelling allows for the customization of content to fit specific audiences or contexts. This adaptability makes it possible to tailor narratives to resonate with different demographic or cultural groups (Friedman, 2014). 5. Educational Value: Digital storytelling is an effective educational tool, enhancing learning by combining visual, auditory, and textual information. ...
This paper examines the role of digital storytelling in health advertising within Nigeria, focusing on how this narrative technique influences public health awareness and behaviour. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach to analyze various health advertisements across digital platforms, evaluating their effectiveness in engaging audiences and conveying critical health messages. The study explores the elements of digital storytelling such as narrative structure, visual content, and interactivity and their impact on audience perception and engagement. Findings suggest that digital storytelling significantly enhances the relatability and memorability of health messages, leading to increased awareness and behavioural change. The paper also discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by health advertisers in Nigeria's digital landscape, providing insights into best practices for crafting compelling health campaigns. The study also selected a few notable case studies of digital health campaigns that have utilized digital storytelling effectively to provide detailed examples of successful digital health advertising campaigns in Nigeria.
... Hansen se refiere a la globalización como un fenómeno que no solo incluye actividades económicas a lo largo de diferentes geografías, sino a una integración de funciones entre actividades dispersadas geográficamente. La interconectividad entre actividades gracias a la comunicación digital y en tiempo real, tiene como consecuencia la existencia de una volatilidad también global que afecta a las economías en todo el mundo (Friedman, 2005;Dicken, 2007). ...
Las organizaciones optan a menudo nuevas formas de trabajo descentralizado fuera de sus casas matrices para lograr una reducción de costos en sus actividades. En los últimos años, gracias a los avances en comunicación digital, estas nuevas formas de organización han producido, bajo determinadas circunstancias, ventajas competitivas a través de la interacción de recursos y capacidades descentralizados en diferentes zonas geográficas y con diversos aspectos culturales llamados “centros de servicios”. En este trabajo se describen estos nuevos fenómenos de descentralización de procesos desde una perspectiva teórica administrativa, cuáles son sus orígenes, características, ventajas y riesgos asociados.
... Not since the days of September 11, 2001 have leaders in the United States (U.S.) been more cognizant of the need to understand exactly what it means to have a plan for the "Continuity of Operations" (Koontz, 2006). Not long ago, Friedman (2005) suggested the "World is Flat" and amidst a 21st-century global pandemic, that argument appears to have never been more true. Throughout the 20th-century, the world watched the rise and fall of nations -Hilter's Nazi Germany in 1945, the collapse of the U.S.S. R. in 1991, andIran under Hussein in 2003. ...
... Friedman dalam Afandi dkk. mengilustrasikan perubahan ini sebagai "the world is flat"yang merujuk pada sebuah keadaan dimana dunia tidak terbatas pada batas-batas negara dan zona waktu karena perkembangan teknologi (Afandi dkk., 2016;Friedman, 2007). Perkembangan teknologi informasi telah menciptakan sebuah "ruang baru" yang bersifat artifisial dan maya, yang disebut cyberspace (Pilliang, 2012). ...
Studi ini menyoroti pentingnya literasi digital di era Industri 4.0, terutama di Desa Karyajaya dengan populasi 5075 penduduk pada tahun 2023. Literasi digital mencakup kemampuan mendapatkan, memahami, dan menggunakan informasi digital dari berbagai sumber, serta berpikir yang berakar pada literasi komputer dan informasi. Metode door-to-door dan seminar digunakan dalam Program Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) untuk mengedukasi masyarakat Desa Karyajaya tentang etika dan keamanan digital. Hasilnya menunjukkan peningkatan pemahaman dan keterampilan literasi digital di kalangan peserta seminar. Studi ini menekankan bahwa pendekatan KKN adalah langkah efektif dalam meningkatkan literasi digital, dan perlu diteruskan untuk mendukung pengembangan masyarakat berbasis teknologi di era revolusi digital.
... Electioneering campaigns and votescouting by political office-seekers and political parties are conducted by leveraging the numerous opportunities offered by social media to not only register their political interest and ambition but also persuasively appeal to be voted for, bringing a new dimension to political communication (John & Ibe, 2020). Friedman (2007), maintain that social media serves as the political stage for the majority of effective electioneering campaigns in the modern world, and social media is now the primary arena for both losing and winning elections. Undeniably, utilising smartphones, computers, and other readily available communication devices, access to social media is easy and could be done anywhere ( (Edegoh & Samson, 2014)). ...
This study demonstrates how the social media can be used for political mobilization, using the obidient movement as a case study. The emergence of the Obidient Movement in Nigeria has been intimately associated with the way in which the development of social media platforms has revolutionised political communication. This article looks at how social media affects political mobilisation in Nigeria, with a particular emphasis on the remarkable role that technology-driven communication played in the Obidient Movement’s success. The conventional boundaries of political campaigning have been rewritten with the rise of social media, giving non-traditional influencers, grassroots activism, and digital activism a greater chance to shape political discourse and election outcomes. The study employed the Uses and Gratification theory, to deduce how citizens were mobilized via social media to join the obidient movement. To achieve this, the study relied on qualitative research method that examines and synthesizes extant literature on political mobilization and the particular relevant literature on social media and political mobilization. The outcome of the study shows that despite the proliferation of fake news and misinformation on social media, it served as a tool for political mobilization for the obidient movement, as obidients used social media to form alliances, crowdfund, mobilse political support and interact with a wider audience. By exploring the pivotal role of social media in the recent Nigerian election, this article illuminates the transformative potential of these platforms in reshaping political mobilization and generating support for previously underrepresented political forces in the nation.
... The advent of digital technology has brought about significant changes in traditional learning paradigms, reshaping the learning environment, resources, and methods. In today's globalized digital era [3], intercultural communication in digital settings has become pervasive in all aspects of life. Consequently, there is an opportunity to raise awareness among students about multicultural and multilingual realities that are often overlooked in formal education, where dominant national cultures tend to take precedence. ...
... In a cultural context, globalization is defined as a process that dissolves or destroys cultural differences around the world, leading to the emergence of a particular set of widely shared values and beliefs (Movius, 2010). With a geographical metaphor, globalization is defined as a system that flattens the world or starts flattening, creating, and imposing itself over fiber networks in a way that leaves no gaps (Friedman, 2007). In the historical context, globalization is defined as the move of people living in a certain geography, the products consumed, the newspapers read, and so on in this geography to different geographies over time and eventually spreading rapidly and becoming everywhere (Ritzer, 2011). ...
In this research, the effects of globalization at the higher education level were examined by using "Critical Discourse Analysis". For this purpose, the "editorial introduction", "preface" and "executive summary" sections of the reports of national and international organizations were analysed using the critical discourse analysis (CDA) method. Open, axial and selective coding was used in the analysis of the texts together and separately. As a result of open coding, a total twenty-nine codes were obtained. As revealed by the axial codes, it can be said that the tendency of "objectification", "market-centred acting", "formation from outside towards inside", "homogenization" and "formation from top towards bottom" was observed. When the common points of the categories formed as a result of axial coding are examined, it can be said that there is a connection on the basis of isomorphism.
... Silikonske dolinu u San Francisku, aeronautičke industrije u Montrealu i kreativnih industrija u Londonu. (Friedman, 2005). ...
Danas više od polovine stanovnika sveta živi u urbanim oblastima. Gradovi su mesta gde se mogu naći i problemi, ali i rešenja za njih. U vremenu ekonomske krize dobra povezanost u klastere kroz ekonomskih aktivnosti, lokalno takmičenje poput kvaliteta rada i kreativnosti i potreba da za promenom u industriji usluga su snage koje čine ekonomsku održivost urbanih oblast. Ovo bi trebali biti glavni temelji budućeg rasta. Ovaj rad se bazira na analizu sadržaja literature o klasterima u funkciji ekonomske održivost gradova danas.
... It proceeds on the premise that the growth of observed deviations and the socio-cultural trends that defy adequate description in terms of habitual categories are temporary crises. Repair discourses are formulated as local utopias appealing to creativity (of classes, cities or economies), digitilization, networking, robotics, innovation, nanotechnologies, gentrification, smart technologies, the knowledge economy, intellect capitalization, the flat world (Thomas Friedman, see [18]). All such concepts are called upon to demonstrate that the market/capitalism has not lost its ability to expand the resource space of all participants. ...
After the collapse of the bipolar world, the global hierarchy of social sciences saw the emergence of a neoliberal mainstream based on three axiomatic pillars: Western dominance, capitalism (the free market), and liberalism (the value of individual autonomy). Today, we see growing criticism and the disintegration of the mainstream with its claim to providing universal descriptions and legitimization of modern societies, which have reached the end of history in the form of open-access liberal market democracies. The purpose of this article is to discover how transformations of the prevailing political and economic orders, configurations of the subjects of geopolitical dominance, and their legitimizing metaphors determine the direction of changes in the social sciences mainstream. The hypothesis of the study is that the prevailing principles of stratification and distribution of public resources will be less and less related, value-wise and institutionally, to capitalism, the market, and democracy, since the latter are unable to deliver broader opportunities for the majority population in practice. The global change in social ontology, the structure of economic reproduction, and legitimate foundations of the political order tend to diminish the credibility and relevance of mainstream concepts focused on the axiomatics of market values and liberal rhetoric. Intellectual attempts to restore the relevance of the neoliberal mainstream through the construction of local utopias (the flat world, creative class, knowledge economy, etc.), the introduction of complementary concepts of civil repair (Jeffrey Alexander), socio-cultural trauma (Piotr Sztompka), poor governance, dependence on
... Anssi Paasi wrote his paper Bounded Spaces in the Mobile World: Deconstructing 'Regional Identity' in 2002, a moment we now regard as the peak of neoliberal globalisation. Back then, the disintegration of the Soviet empire in the 1990s and the opening up of China had heralded an increasingly 'mobile world' (Paasi 2002) where the 'world is flat' for market forces (Friedman 2005), and where deep ideological rivalries had allegedly met their 'end of history' (Fukuyama 1992). The opening of spaces in an ever-increasing mobile world was then at the forefront of public and academic debates. ...
This paper discusses the current relevance of Anssi Paasi's 2002 paper Bounded Spaces in the Mobile World: Deconstructing ‘Regional Identity’. Using Paasi's conceptual tools to analyse the cultivation of a thin regional identity discourse of the metropolitan region Amsterdam, it is shown how the construction of a large upmarket housing estate in the small town of Muiden near Amsterdam is legitimised. Paasi's conceptual tools also help to analyse the use of a traditional thick local identity discourse by the local population. This illustrates the growing importance of thickening resistance identities in reaction to the neoliberal policies promoting globalisation. When Paasi wrote this paper at the turn of the century, the world was opening up, which challenged established identities. Today, we see a revival of thickening identities again.
... Os meios de comunicação se ampliaram, diversas plataformas foram construídas, principalmente após o desenvolvimento dos smartphones. É possível notar que os limites geográficos foram amplamente reduzidos ou removidos das interações e relações das pessoas, sendo aplicado para o contexto organizacional da mesma forma(Friedman, 2005).Chiavenato (2008) é mais detalhista sobre o processo de recrutamento e seleção remoto, onde informa que a internet, e as tecnologias vindas em conjunto, revolucionaram o processo. O valor está agregado ao imediatismo atrelado a agilidade de manter contato com candidatos que estejam em diversos lugares diferentes. ...
Este trabalho é resultado de um estudo desenvolvido em uma empresa de tecnologia de Governador Valadares, atuante no mercado de desenvolvimento de soluções digitais. A pesquisa teve como objetivo desenvolver um processo de design de serviço a fim de propor um meio de construir um processo de recrutamento e seleção remoto que seja centrado no candidato. Para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa-ação, que tem como características ser aplicado e exploratório, com abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa, foram utilizados a experiência do analista de Gente e Gestão da empresa estudada, como meio de coletar informações e propor soluções em conjunto, bem como uma pesquisa bibliográfica. Após a coleta de todas as informações necessárias, foi desenvolvida a forma como o processo de recrutamento e seleção se relaciona com o design de serviços e os passos que devem ser seguidos do design de serviço para construir uma boa experiência de recrutamento e seleção remoto. Desta forma, concluiu-se que o design de serviço possui um arcabouço grande de ferramentas que possuem como objetivo, deixar o usuário no centro, sendo utilizado para construir uma boa experiência. Sendo a boa experiência, fator decisivo no sucesso de um serviço ou produto, inclusive o processo de recrutamento e seleção remoto.
... The soaring of corporate sustainability amid globalization, ICT and 'the world-is-flat' (Friedman, 2005) suggests that these scenarios are up for a new dawn as the theory of business evolves towards the late 20 th century social epoch and precipitates organizations coming under heavy pressure(s) from inter alia consumers, investors, employees, suppliers, civil rights crusaders, environmentalists, host-communities, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and agencies, civil societies/activists and media to respond to the challenges of social deficits (Sweeney & Coughlan, 2008;Nikolova & Arsic, 2017;Freeman & Dmytriyev, 2017). Other scholars (Albuquerque et al., 2020;Boone & Kurtz, 2007;Dordi & Palaschuk, 2022;Fatima & Elbanna, 2022;Kantabutra & Ketprapakorn, 2020) propose that global pandemics (e.g., COVID-19 and EBOLA), economic upheavals, environmental disasters, garbage disposal, acid rain, depletion of the ozone layers, global warming and global governance initiatives like large-scale sustainability accords are other fundamental scenarios that pose unprecedented and unavoidable charges on corporations to develop, navigate, adapt or regularly overhaul CSR programmes to guarantee sustainability. ...
Complacency is almost archaic in the knowledge economy, because firms are overwhelmingly confronted with diverse expectations from better informed stakeholders, who pressure on societal issues amid shareholders’ calls for greater financial security. Similarly, there is a growing call for corporations to redefine their responsibilities to stakeholders, and to integrate socio-economic and environmental concerns into business processes and strategies in order to transparently impact on societies. In a bid to support mutually beneficial relationships, this paper shows how stakeholder theory proactively moderates the strength of CSR in social interactions, environmental protection, and sustainable development. It proposes a four-stage stakeholder dialogue ladder which attempts to synergize CSR, stakeholder and stakeholder theory based on the stages as defined by the firm’s extent of development, and her regularity and intensity of interaction with stakeholders. The paper argues that subject to the problem to solve, the languages of CSR and stakeholder theory are useful and that, the dichotomies of covering wrongdoing and creating falsehoods could be addressed when firms adopt stakeholder dialogue and collaboration that aid friendly CSR programmes. Thus, the relationship turns that of dyadic partnership, because corporations follow issue or purpose-based CSR programmes that create values that trickle to interdependent stakeholders. In sum, corporations need to continually get committed to environmentally-sensitive CSR since there is a strong relationship between CSR activities, stakeholders and actual performance.
... 143 Това мнение е разбирано като крайно в настоящата работа, защото близо двадесет години след теорията 144 на Т. Фрийман, влиянието на авторитетите все още е осезаемо. Освен това през 2024 г., в статията "Демокрация под заплаха в годината на избори" (Democracy under threat in the 'year of elections') от вестник "Файненшъл таймс", позовавайки се на изследване на института V-Dem от Университета в Готенбург (Гьотеборг) в Швеция пишат, че: 1) през 2014 г. около половината от възрастното население на света 142 Friedman, T. (2005) ще придобие право да гласува на избори; 2) на този фон растат осезаемо както антилиберализма, така и заплахата за демократичните ценности. Сочат дори количествен показател, във вид на индекса V-Dem. ...
In the information-dominated every-day life of the 21st century, the world of international politics and international relations
is increasingly referring to public diplomacy (state-to-citizens)
and ‘new’ public diplomacy (citizen-to-citizen). The two constructs emerge as defining factors in the negotiation of policies
and in the implementation of interests in foreign countries. The
reason for this is society developing and acquiring an ever-more
prominent role in international relations. They, to the end of their
ability to influence foreign policy and socio-political effects, are
explored through the subject of diplomacy, with the focus being
set on public diplomacy, ‘new’ public diplomacy, and digital diplomacy. The object and the subject are explored through the perspective of security. The present work abides by the notion that
the state and society form a social system, and the people form
that system in pursuit of achieving, and then maintaining the
achieved level of security. Consideration is given to the fact that
in the contemporary, information-dominated world of the 21st
century, the discourse on foreign policy matters is not limited to
government officials. Today’s foreign affairs are communicated
between countries’ societies, and even between the individual
members of societies.
The problematic is illustrated, in light of the relations
between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia (since 2018, The Republic of North Macedonia). The main
dimension of the problem is outlined in the context of the collisions in the foreign policy relations, resulting from the artificial
creation of a nation, based on the inhabitancy of a group of
people of a historical and geographical area; as well as the negative effects, including: hate speech, the replacement of the historical past, and the physical violence applied against the right of
national self-awareness.
The work does not aim to outline the object of the scientific pursuit as a unique challenge before security or as a precedent
in international relations. Instead, it sets out to explore the notion
of presenting the said relations in line with the convergent-divergent wholeness of the scope of the contemporary diplomatic
practice.
For the achievement of the so-defined aim, the focus is set
on mass communication. Simultaneously considered is the circumstance that communication is a term, spanning the technical
and the social contexts. As a result, communication is considered
for its part which ensues between individuals, both within and
between the social systems. In line with this definition, the the�ory of Niklas Luhmann about the communication of the social
systems is considered an appropriate foundation. The states and
their respective societies are explored as social systems, which
people create in the context of security. It is assumed that such
systems “float” in an ocean of information, which forms the en�vironment that surrounds them, from which they either send or
receive information packets (informational stamps).
Of particular interest are the dimensions of communication
within diplomacy, defined as a primary tool in foreign policy, as
well as in socio-political relations. Considered is the proximity
between the three selections (messaging, informing, understanding), in which Luhmann defines communication and the main
functions of public diplomacy (informing, understanding, and influence).
The present scientific pursuit employs a phenomenological
approach. The study is performed in the following order:
In the first chapter, in line with the defined aim, outlined
are the characteristics of the object and the subject, with special
attention being given to the importance of socio-political relations between people. Accentuated is that in a world of cyberspace, intensive travel and absence of bi-polar political limitations, the communication which underpins today’s relations becomes an ever-more important factor in the diplomacy between
states. Considering this, the focus is set on public diplomacy.
The second chapter explores ‘new’ public diplomacy and
digital diplomacy. Due to the defining connection with public
communication, influential theories in the field of communication, such as ones by Niklas Luhmann and Paul Lazarsfeld, have
been explored.
In the third chapter, the analysis is completed by exploring
the environment, which the ocean of information provides for the
foreign policy relations on the Balkans. The focus is set on the
states in the South-East part of the peninsula: the Republic of
Bulgaria, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Serbia, the Hellenic Republic, and the Republic of Albania. Considered is also the influence of Russian and other interests in the
region. The focus is set on the relations between The Republic of
Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia. Based on the
outset of the scientific pursuit, identified are consequences, as
well as omissions, outlined as communicational discrepancies.
The view through the prism of the so-constructed communicational framework uncovers Bulgarian-Macedonian relations
in a specific light. It draws forward accents which are visible,
but, for one reason or another, describing their importance as
factors within that framework has been causing difficulties in
past.
The “knowledge economy”, as it was understood in economic policy circles in the 1990s, was characterised by a dematerialisation of production processes and rapid growth in demand for skills. Under these conditions, governments with the foresight to invest in the education of their citizens would supposedly reap significant productivity gains, and the majority of the benefits would flow to skilled workers rather than owners of physical or financial capital. This chapter argues that such accounts of the knowledge economy only held true for a brief window of time, and even then, only in certain places. Drawing on sectoral-level data for 14 affluent democracies from the mid-1990s to the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, it explores trajectories of both productivity growth and inequality. Shifts in national income from capital to labour were predominantly associated with countries specialising in knowledge-intensive services as opposed to advanced manufacturing and were most clearly visible during the early stages of the knowledge economy era. Furthermore, over time, knowledge-intensive services have tended to become more capital-intensive—an indication that new technologies such as artificial intelligence may increasingly be substituting for high-skilled knowledge work in these sectors, diminishing the range and quality of options available to would-be knowledge workers.
This paper examines contemporary digital insecurity through a critical confrontation with Metcalfe’s Law. Metcalfe’s Law—which states that the value of a network grows proportionally to the square of the size of the network—has been cited as a key reason for the astronomical growth in user base and market values of digital companies. This paper proposes a corresponding tendency alongside Metcalfe’s Law, namely that, as digital networks grow in size, there is a tendency towards a corresponding growth in systemic risk. Building on theories of systemic risk, this paper identifies key factors intensifying systemic risk, including: increasing network size increases the complexity and ‘attack surface’ of a network; increasing network size increases the ‘target-rich’ nature of the network; and the ‘layered’ robustness of the internet infrastructure in cases of cyber-security failures can provide an undamaged carrier of digital systemic risk. This paper then proceeds to show how developments in generative AI threaten to massively amplify the risks of ever-expanding digital networks.
Although Japan is geographically located in Asia, historically and politically, it is recognized as part of the West. However, not only the recent intensification of the rivalry between China and the United States but also economic and technological globalization have made this ambivalent a-geographical identity far more complex and even fragile, despite the Japanese people generally in favor of it. This chapter describes my teaching strategy for a general education course titled “Global Cooperation” in this difficult geopolitical setting. Employing critical geopolitics as the main theory of the course, I invite students to reconsider the imaginative geography of Japan in the West to understand the reality of world politics. In doing so, the course reimagines the global common interest in an increasingly hostile world.
Since 2023, North Korea and Russia have been rapidly intensifying their amicable relationship. This study investigates North Korea’s current perceptions regarding its diplomacy with Russia. While previous studies have primarily examined the military sector with respect to North Korea–Russia relations, because North Korea’s military policy constitutes a branch of its diplomatic strategy tailored to political objectives, assessing North Korea’s diplomatic policy solely from the perspective of military cooperation can yield only a limited analysis. Therefore, it is necessary to consider North Korea’s long-established diplomatic belief system and its implications on its diplomatic policy. This study seeks to derive the attributes of North Korea’s perception of its diplomacy with Russia by interpreting the ‘internal discursification’ attempted by North Korean authorities. Methodologically, Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the Workers’ Party of Korea, is utilized as a key medium for internal discursification. Our analysis reveals that North Korea is establishing diplomatic routes to simultaneously pursue its autonomy and interests and is influencing Russia to support North Korea’s pursued national identity and interests. Additionally, this study confirms the intention of North Korean domestic politics to strengthen the authority of Kim Jong Un by constructing an image of an international leader.
This chapter segues to the global informatization phenomenon and the constructs closely associated with it. It traces the evolution of global societies from agricultural to industrial to informational. It highlights differentiations between data, information, knowledge and wisdom and operationalizes these differentiations in the field of practice. It recounts experiences with informatization scholars Jussawalla and Konoshima in 1989 at the East West Center in Honolulu.
This chapter addresses governance reforms of the last three and a half decades and looks into the future. This is done in three parts. The first part presents a bird’s-eye view of the massive literature on governance and governance reforms with a focus on the good, the bad, and ugly sides. Then, in part two, it argues for an alternative concept or theory of “sound governance” with characteristics and dimensions that overcome the deficiencies of other models of governance. As a consequence of reforms, the third part examines the past and explores the future of public organizations via “going home” as a conclusion with possible scenarios, challenges, and opportunities.
Organizational eclecticism has characterized much of policy and administrative choices in public governance in the last three decades. This concluding chapter addresses this phenomenon and argues that roads have been taken, targets have been met, and many lessons have been learned in organizing and managing public sector governance, as the chapters in this book demonstrate. In the process, experiments have been conducted, some with success, while others with failure, leading to a proliferation of eclectic choices, many unsuited for organizational effectiveness but beneficial to powerful interest groups and politicians, all at the expense of alternative organizational choices and broad-based public interests. Three broad theoretical models/periods are examined, the proliferation of public sector organizational eclecticism is analyzed, and options are suggested concerning alternative organizational choices, resulting in the question: can we go home now?
The article addresses the current discussion about values in general sense and about traditional spiritual and moral values in particular from the standpoint of modern social philosophy. The purpose of the study is to show the modernity, contemporaneity and consistency of traditional values in a specific historical situation. To do this, the author identifies the most significant aspects in the reflection on the concept, focusing on the social thought of the last few decades. The result of this is the explication of a specific understanding of values as autonomy only partially dependent on the context. The socio-philosophical discourse on values intersects with those more familiar to philosophy regarding the topic, i.e. axiological, political, ethical or aesthetic, but does not completely coincide with them. Its actualization was caused by the historical events, but it always had its groundings in theoretical contradictions that philosophy has faced. The article provides an outline of the position of values in socio-humanitarian thought, deconstructs some of the foundations of the hierarchy of values proposed by default within globalized thought. The author also demonstrates that posing the question about values in a national context does not contradict the theoretical foundations and the very tasks of philosophy. On the contrary, the need for philosophy, including social philosophy, to pose and answer the question about values is only increasing. On the base of a priori self-worth of traditional spiritual and moral values, the author concludes that one of the most important tasks of social philosophy is to actualize their content and ways of practical integration into modern life in accordance with the spirit and needs of the time.
As shown by the developments after the full-scale Russian attack
on Ukraine in 2022, the EU is a weak strategic entity. The chapter
discusses this circumstance and elaborates on what could be
done in defense cooperation among European states, primarily
from a Swedish perspective as part of a Nordic-Baltic setting.
As a consequence of shifting strategic patterns among its major
powers, the international system is increasingly marked by power
political entanglements. As shown in the chapter, the Nordic-
Baltic region is increasingly an arena where these entanglements
(mainly between Russia, China and Iran) are played out. This
is currently a militarized period of history and there are several
signs of a potential evolving hegemonic war. In the Nordic-Baltic
region, as caused by this deteriorating security situation, several
subregional initiatives for security and defense cooperation
have developed over the last decade. All states in the region
identify Russia as a central threat and, in Sweden, CHOD has
made a public call for war preparation, and the defense budget
has increased dramatically. Further, as the region is interlinked
in a case of war, Article 5 is the main regional priority. Hence, to
Sweden, the EU is secondary to NATO in the defense dimension. Sweden and Finland, as allies in NATO, have created a new northern
flank. This means that there is a Nordic dimension to defense
planning (something between national plans and Article 5), and
all countries in the region have defense cooperation agreements
(DCA) with the U.S. Indeed, the new northern flank is integrated
in defense via Washington rather than Brussels.
In the 21st century, international diplomacy has been reshaped by non-state actors such as multinational corporations (MNCs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), terrorist groups, and transnational criminal networks. “Beyond Borders: A Comparative Analysis of Non-State Actors' Impact on Contemporary Diplomacy” examines how MNCs use corporate diplomacy and economic statecraft to influence policy, and how NGOs employ Track II diplomacy to advocate for social justice and sustainability. It also addresses the challenges posed by terrorist and criminal networks to traditional diplomacy. By synthesizing various perspectives and case studies, the chapter highlights the importance of inclusive, multi-stakeholder approaches and strategies that balance state sovereignty with non-state actor participation in global governance.
Globalization has been transforming the nature and characteristics of the present state-centric international system. Specifically, the process of fragmentation, decentralization, and internationalization associated with the promotion of neoliberal globalization altered the role of the state from being the only proactive player in the international arena to becoming more and more reactive. The proliferation of different specialized regimes into areas previously controlled and dominated by the state (e.g., trade law, environmental law, and human rights), international institutions sanctioned by intergovernmental organizations undermining the Westphalian constitutional concepts of state sovereignty, and the prevalence of internet governance and cybersecurity concerns reflect the emergence of post-internationalism and heterarchical governance as an alternative.
The internationalization theories are still expanding and being developed by scholars. Studies, related with internationalization, are divided into two research main streams: based on born global theory and international entrepreneurship approach. Economic diplomacy is today the key to the external relations of countries. With globalisation, governments became decisively engaged in economic diplomacy, economic results and the welfare of countries became more dependent on the interaction between economies. In practice, economic diplomacy, associated with the defence of a country's economic and commercial interests, is the continuous work of ambassadors with the businessman, through the identification of business opportunities and serving as a bridge to companies of their countries. Currently, the goal of economic diplomacy is growth and development, without losing sight of the preservation of security to achieve social welfare. This chapter addresses the main themes covering the main lessons learned from globalisation, economic diplomacy, and internationalisation.
This chapter highlights the value of information and communication technology (ICT) to facilitate global perspective-taking in K-12 schools. The data for this study was collected via two separate survey studies of K-12 educators, K-12 curriculum writers, and K-12 support staff. The first survey study was conducted in 2019 and had 139 respondents. A second iteration of the survey was administered to a new population in 2024 and had 140 respondents. The data collected provides pre- and post-pandemic insights into K-12 educators' use of ICT to facilitate global learning. The results indicate an increase in video conferencing and asynchronous tech tools for cross-cultural communication learning and an expansion of information technology for perspective-taking opportunities from pre- to post-pandemic. This chapter reports post-pandemic ICT strategies and practices for utilizing ICT to facilitate cross-cultural communication and enhance student global awareness.
This study examines the interrelationship between English language, social psychology, and global economics. In this sense, through the present study, it is aimed to highlight their joint impact on behavior and societal norms. As the global lingua franca, the role of English in cultural adaptation and economic decision-making is investigated in order to reveal how linguistic proficiency and psychological factors influence economic behaviors and trends in a global context. The research delves into the effects of globalization and technology on language use and psychological well-being, suggesting that the synergy among these elements shapes economic resilience as well. By integrating insights across various disciplines, the findings propose a number of effective strategies for promoting economic growth and social cohesion by offering valuable implications for policymakers and business leaders aiming at inclusive global development and economic resilience.
This article examines the intersection of globalization, digitalization, and digital inclusion, emphasizing the need for equitable access to digital technologies and proficiency in using them. It identifies a research gap and proposes objectives to analyze the effects of globalization and digitalization on digital inclusion disparities among marginalized populations, assess specific challenges faced by underserved groups, investigate existing digital inclusion strategies' effectiveness, and propose targeted interventions. The recommendations include promoting digital technology usage, implementing education and training programs, enacting policy interventions, fostering community engagement, addressing barriers, and advocating for continuous monitoring and evaluation. Overall, digital inclusion is critical to fostering a more equitable and inclusive society in the digital age.
Küreselleşme, siyaset, ekonomi, sosyo-kültür ve diğer birçok alanda birbirine bağlılık ve bağımlılık çerçevesinde yaşanan genişleme, derinleşme ve hızlanma süreçlerini açıklamak için kullanılan oldukça popüler bir kavramdır. Küreselleşmenin tanımı konusunda bir fikir birliği olmamakla birlikte, farklı tanımlardan yola çıkarak küreselleşme kavramı, insanların, nesnelerin, yerlerin ve bilginin çok yönlü akışını ve bu akışları engelleyen veya hızlandıran yapıları içeren bir dizi küresel süreç olarak tanımlanabilir. Ancak küreselleşmenin her devlet, ulus, topluluk ya da birey için aynı sonuçları doğurduğu söylenemez. Özellikle küreselleşmenin hem başlangıcında hem de gelişme sürecinde kilit bir rol oynayan Afrika kıtası, bugün bu sürecin en dezavantajlı tarafında yer almaktadır. Küreselleşme sürecini tarihsel bir perspektiften ele alan bu çalışma, Afrika'nın küresel dünyadaki geçmiş merkezi konumunu ya da alternatiflerini geleceğe nasıl ve ne şekilde taşıyabileceğini hiper-küreselciler, şüpheciler ve dönüşümcüler ekseninde incelemektedir.
Over time, regional economic models for rural development have been subject to various
interpretations of rurality. The first part of this article provides a comprehensive overview
of the sequential emergence of approaches to rural development. In the current context,
pursuing sustainability as a fundamental goal of rural development requires innovative
strategies for territorial intervention. We recognize the immediate need for a renewed vision
of sustainable development, which actively involves the territories and their stakeholders
in long-term strategic planning. The article explores the need for innovative development
paradigms in rural areas. As an original contribution to the existing literature, we introduce the framework of Territorial Intelligence Innovation (TII). This framework is designed
to foster democratic participation processes within rural communities. The investigation is
stimulated by the significant economic disparities in the European spatial landscape, highlighting the urgency of transformative approaches to rural development.
This chapter focuses on concepts of time, resources, and sustainability that impact Open Educational Resources (OER) and explores structural needs for technology, funding, staffing, and content. We examine the lifecycle of OER projects as an entity, beginning with inception, proceeding through development, progressing through periodic adjustments of activity level and focus, and continuing in sustainable growth, maintenance, archival, or obsolescence and demise. We focus on time as a core concept for OER. Time expresses itself in the web through “link rot” as web-based resources are taken down, moved or changed in various ways, hindering researchers and educators. Time also expresses itself in the fast pace of technological change, breaking even technically “live” OER when infrastructure such as coding and browser standards, media standards, operating systems, and security practices change. In this chapter we suggest possible solutions to these issues of time, focusing on resource allocation and planning to prevent loss or obsolescence, and synthesizing research on the sustainability of OER. We propose the Time, Resources, Sustainability (TRS) model of OER management relating time, resources, and sustainability to structural concerns. Key to these solutions is a forward-thinking mindset to ensure the maintenance and stewardship of OER for the use of future students and educators.
To improve systems thinking in micro, small and medium-sized organizations, the main efforts should be aimed towards enhancing the capacity and competence for analyzing, understanding and optimization of established systems in an organization. As Katzenbach and Smith elaborated expertly in 1993, a cross functional team represents a composition of multiple people with various organizational functions regardless of hierarchy, but tactically chosen for their complementary skills and committed to a common organizational vision and goal (Katzenbach & Smith, 1993). This paper explores the thesis that cross-functional teams are a key pillar in the development of the systems thinking capacity of any small to medium organization. The author will review the relevant and available literature defining teams, cross functional teams, will provide an insight into the works of various contemporary authors in systems thinking thus providing a descriptive analysis on the thesis.
The world is in a state of flux. Old alliances are shaking while new ones are being formed. More than ever before the post-1945 multilateral order under the hegemony of the United States of America is being challenged by emerging global powers like China and old adversary like Russia. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine constitutes a defining factor in the evolving shift in geography of power and geopolitics. Both Africa and the EU are at the centre of these changes. Riding against the wind of nationalism and beggar thy neighbour policies of the 1930s, Africa has launched the African Continental Free Trade Area as a means of fostering more intra-African trade and increasing the contributions of the continent to the global value chains. As the leading trade partner with Africa, the EU is trying to leverage on its historical and ongoing engagements with Africa to preserve access to markets and ensure continuous flow of raw materials. This chapter examines the relationship between Africa and the EU in the context of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the African Continental Free Trade Area. The overarching questions are how will these changes affect the relations between the two continents? Would the changes bring about better deals for Africa or retain the old paternalistic posturing of the issue? How can Africa leverage on the AfCTA to recalibrate its relations with the EU, especially in the light of new powers that are showing more interests on the continent? This paper will be analysed through the theoretical lens of critical international political economy. It concludes that beyond the sentimental attachment with old partners like the EU, Africa needs to carefully develop a strategy that can enhance its capacity to maximizing its interest in its engagement with both old and new partners.
Exports of software services have the potential to significantly boost both the global information technology (IT) sector and the economies of emerging nations. The software industry's overall rapid expansion, together with that of ITES-BPO, has been having a profound effect on India's socioeconomic dynamics. In the software sector, organizations are under pressure to deliver better service in light of the growing expectations of their customers. Companies need to differentiate themselves from the competition and coordinate their offerings for successful growth. This industry has evolved as the sector that generates the most employment. The Indian government has set up an assortment of initiatives to support the growth of the software industry. The chapter describes the early days of the software industry, examines Indian and global perspectives on the business, assesses the market size of the software industry, tracks the expansion of software exports, and identifies export-friendly government regulations.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.