Suchergebnisse

AbstractThe preceding article by Best, Budge and McDonald acknowledges much of the substance of the alternative 'bilateralist' interpretation of democratic governance I advocated and attempts to re‐focus the median mandate approach towards a longer‐term, and potentially more productive, understanding of the opinion‐policy relationship. Both are welcome developments. Despite taking these steps, however, the authors choose to allow the fate of the median mandate thesis to rest ultimately on an attempt to re‐establish the short‐term one‐to‐one relationship that I challenged. In this brief note, I argue that this not only undercuts the more positive initiatives noted above, but also is based on a flawed understanding of how the short‐term relationship should be operationalised and tested.

The preceding article by Best, Budge and McDonald acknowledges much of the substance of the alternative 'bilateralist' interpretation of democratic governance I advocated and attempts to re-focus the median mandate approach towards a longer-term, and potentially more productive, understanding of the opinion-policy relationship. Both are welcome developments. Despite taking these steps, however, the authors choose to allow the fate of the median mandate thesis to rest ultimately on an attempt to re-establish the short-term one-to-one relationship that I challenged. In this brief note, I argue that this not only undercuts the more positive initiatives noted above, but also is based on a flawed understanding of how the short-term relationship should be operationalised and tested. Adapted from the source document.

Die OPEC steht seit der zweiten Ölkrise von 1979/81 vor dem Problem eines stark zurückgehenden Marktanteils sowie absolut rückläufiger Mengen und Preise für ihre Ölexporte. Für die Stützung des Marktes durch Angebotsverringerung und damit für den Zusammenhalt der OPEC spielte Saudi-Arabien bislang durch Reduzierung seiner eigenen Förderung eine Schlüsselrolle. Diese Rolle ist es aber nicht mehr bereit, im bisherigen Maße zu übernehmen. Eine Abstimmung mit den großen Nicht-OPEC-Förderländern, v.a. Mexiko und Großbritannien, wird daher aus saudiarabischer und OPEC-Sicht immer wichtiger. (SWP-Spb)

Die OPEC hat versucht, dem Preisverfall bei Rohöl und dem Überangebot auf dem Markt durch eine Quotenregelung entgegenzutreten, wobei Saudi-Arabien als "swing-producer" die Schlüsselrolle übernahm. Wirtschaftliche Schwierigkeiten und Überschreitungen der zugestandenen Produktionsquoten durch einige OPEC-Staaten bewogen jedoch den größten Ölproduzenten der OPEC, von dieser Rolle wieder Abstand zu nehmen, was politische Spannungen innerhalb des Öl- Kartells zur Folge hatte. Sollte das Quotensystem völlig zusammenbrechen und der Ölpreis dadurch weiter fallen, droht der OPEC eine ernste Krise. (KM)

A discussion of Opec's various efforts of redressing the sharp fall in oil prices. Schemes such as forming a wider alliance of Opec and various non-Opec countries or else of competing with other oil producers are evaluated against the background of divergent interests between Opec members on the one side and on the other side oil producers like Britain and Norway, who expect economic growth from low energy prices. Japan is depicted as an interesting exception. It fears that lower oil prices ultimately threatens its trade with the Middle East. The article is pessimistic about Opec achieving a production-sharing agreement, that would hold for long. (DÜI-Asd)

The expertise shows how increasing competition between members of the OPEC to sell their oil in a weak world market is bringing the member-states into conflict with each other and also brings oil prices under considerable pressure. As an alternative to competitive price-discounting for crude oil, a practice which OPEC officially forbids, the individual member states recently have resorted to such subterfuges as changing the composition of the mix of oils they offer or else making countertrade arrangements. Barter-type deals, in particular, allow hardly any price transparency. As the OPEC countries attempt to make their oil more competitive against that of non-OPEC producers, they risk a major price war amongst themselves. (DÜI-Asd)

Falling demand for oil and new supplies; role of Saudi Arabia; disunity in the organization.

Looks at the development and changing organization of the star system in the American film industry. Tracing the popularity of star performers from the early "cinema of attractions" to the Internet universe, Paul McDonald explores the ways in which Hollywood has made and sold its stars. Through focusing on particular historical periods, case studies of Mary Pickford, Bette Davis, James Cagney, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, and Will Smith illustrate the key conditions influencing the star system in silent cinema, the studio era and the New Hollywood.