The changing nature of the ITU Plenipotentiary

The Plenipotentiary Conference is the supreme organ of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Since the Nairobi Plenipotentiary in 1982, there has been much debate about the role of the Plenipotentiary and even the future of the ITU in the continuing telecommunications revolution. This article explores the major attributes of the Plenipotentiary by comparing the Nairobi Conference with the five post-second world war Plenipotentiaries that preceded it. Criticisms are evaluated and suggestions for improvement are made.     

Development of policy in the ITU

As one of the oldest functional-purpose international organisations, the ITU is dedicated to voluntary agreements. These concern allocation of a scarce, internationally shared resourced, the radio frequency spectrum; standardisation of telecommunication services and systems; and joint planning. The organisation's policy making in pursuit of these objectives is outlined. Powers given to different organs are explained. Several cases are cited as illustrations of policy problems and their solutions. In summary, the rationale for the ITU's complex, federated structure is described.     

The politics of technology education

Conclusion All the issues raised in this paper converge in one major aspect which is at the heart of almost all of the anxieties and the critiques. It is simply that, in modern societies, technology equals power. As Bernstein (1975) observed, the outcomes of the decisions on whom to give access to knowledge, at what level of content and difficulty and for what accreditations substantially determine who holds power in the next generation. As technology teachers we must realise that we have a large part of the most fundamental power of all — the distribution of power in future society.The responsibility is formidable. This paper has sought to make it more visible and to facilitate its more effective exercise by demonstrating the nature of the process and to advocate its implementation with understanding. In that way teachers may open a broader path to integrity and justice — both professional and political — in both schools and society.An edited version of the Maurice Brown Memorial Lecture presented at the National Design and Technology Exhibition 1993John Eggleston is Professor of Education at the University of Warwick and Chairman of Judges of the Young Electronic Designer Awards     

Falling through the cracks: International accounting rate reform at the ITU and WTO

Heightened attention to international accounting rates at the ITU and the WTO has led some observers to conclude that carriers soon will impose cost-based termination charges. This article concludes that while accounting rates have declined on some routes, many incumbent carriers can and will delay or thwart progress. The article examines the FCC's unilateral regulatory initiative as evidence of a growing schism between governments keen on immediate progress and those that fear a ‘free fall’ in accounting rates and a quick end to settlement surpluses. The article also considers technological innovations like call-back and Internet telephony with an eye toward assesssing whether and how widespread accounting rate reductions will occur.     

The politics of public safety communication interoperability regulation

This article examines an understudied area of telecommunication policy, namely the regulation of public safety radio communication to bring about communication interoperability. Commonality and funding are the two intertwined policy challenges need to be overcome to achieve this interoperability. Addressing these challenges separately, US federal policy has struggled to establish communication interoperability. By contrast, the integrated approach of the Europeans has resulted in a relatively successful outcome. It is argued that this integrated approach may even permit the transplantation of a more general telecommunication policy thread—competition—to the public safety radio communication field. However, whether interoperability is established may also be linked to intra-agency fears of a potential re-direction of hierarchical communication flows brought about by new (and configurable) communication infrastructure. If this is the case, policy-makers regulating for interoperability will need to take into account inter- and intra-agency organizational dynamics as well.     

Communication standards and the politics of protectionism: The case of colour television systems

The author discusses the political processes and negotiations involved in the selection of a colour television standard for Europe in the 1960s. The French government's strategy in favour of its own system (SECAM) is examined, as well as the current economic status of the French colour television industry. The article explores the question of the selection and protection by a government of a ‘national champion’ product, and the strategies involved.     

The limited relevance of culture to strategy

How are the theory and practice of strategy different in the Asia Pacific? I propose that answers to this question have gained little from incorporating culture as an explanation. There is little evidence that culture-oriented research published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Management or in other management journals has substantially influenced strategy theory. Despite its value in explaining some macro- and micro-phenomena, the construct of culture has not improved understanding of firm strategy or performance. This leads to the general argument that culture has limited relevance for strategy.     

Policy discourse and data retention: The technology politics of surveillance in the United Kingdom

This article presents an analysis of UK legislation on the retention of communications data that was introduced in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001. It presents a review of the discourses surrounding this legislation in parliament, in the wider international policy arena, in business and in terms of technology. The review of these discourses demonstrates that, in understanding policies involving a significant technological component such as communications data retention, policy alternatives may be evaluated only with an appreciation of technological characteristics alongside the traditional concerns of legislators, civil society and the business community. While academia has developed many forms of analysis for political, international, and regulatory discourses, the same must be undertaken for technological discourse, i.e. the interactions between the policies in question, the actors, and the technologies. Developing forms of analysis for technological discourses will likely lead to further understanding of both the policy problem and the actors’ interests. The paper also shows how current institutions are slowly developing the necessary skills to incorporate the technological aspects of policy into political debate, and calls for a similar development for the law.     

The best laid schemes o'TQM: strategy, politics and power

This article explores management's strategic decision making in relation to Total Quality Management (TQM). It demonstrates that management's strategies are fraught with politics and power relations, which influence the 'choice' of strategy and the way in which such strategies are 'implemented'. Hence, management's strategic decision making may not be planned and rational, and their behaviour is often contradictory which may undermine TQM or render its outcomes uncertain and contestable.     

加强党的执政能力建设的重要思想——学习毛泽东同志关于加强党执政能力的论述

本文作者通过认真学习和思考毛泽东同志关于加强党的执政能力建设的思想总结了其思想体现在政治、经济等八个方面的深刻含义.     

The politics of global production: Apple,Foxconn and China's new working class

Apple's commercial triumph rests in part on the outsourcing of its consumer electronics production to Asia. Drawing on extensive fieldwork at China's leading exporter—the Taiwanese‐owned Foxconn—the power dynamics of the buyer‐driven supply chain are analysed in the context of the national terrains that mediate or even accentuate global pressures. Power asymmetries assure the dominance of Apple in price setting and the timing of product delivery, resulting in intense pressures and illegal overtime for workers. Responding to the high‐pressure production regime, the young generation of Chinese rural migrant workers engages in a crescendo of individual and collective struggles to define their rights and defend their dignity in the face of combined corporate and state power.     

Videotex,prestel and teletext: The economics and politics of some electronic publishing media

The term ‘Videotex’ has recently been adopted internationally to describe some of the simple, low- cost electronic means of ‘publishing’ text and graphics. The technology is expected to become widely available in the next five years. The author reviews the key technical and managerial issues and options involved in Videotex (otherwise known as ‘viewdata’) and in a wider range of text- dissemination systems. He offers a tentative assessment of the economic significance of these new media. Public policy implications are discussed: these include questions relating to regulation, editorial control, advertising standards, competition, and other issues. The distinctive industry structure in the USA presents special difficulties and opportunities.     

提高党政办公室文字综合能力的对策

本文主要论述了提高党政办公室文字综合能力的必要性和重要性,并就如何提高党政办公室文字综合能力进行了阐述。     

关于煤炭企业廉政文化建设的实践与思考

紧密结合煤炭企业实际、打造特色的廉政文化,是推进党风廉政建设的重要举措。2005年以来,鸡西分公司按照“培育核心理念、重在行为养成、完善约束机制”的总体思路,积极开展了廉政文化建设的探索、认知和实践活动,初步走出一条具有企业特色的廉政文化建设之路。     

Technology and the politics of change at work: the case of Dalebake Bakeries

A processual perspective is advocated in this article that develops a mutual shaping account of the relationship between technology and organization; and the case of Dalebake Bakeries is used to illustrate the importance of power and politics in understanding processes of change in the local reconfiguration of new technology at work.     

政治文明入宪要求政治规范化

政治文明的入宪将政治文明提升到法律的层面,使期待有了法律的意义具有了规范的性质.首先表现为要求政治规范化,这种要求不仅仅来自于政治文明自身的特征也来自于宪法的规范性.它必将在政治制度、政治行为、政治意识三个方面加以体现.     

Spectrum allocation and its relevance for competition

Spectrum is one of the most important production factors for mobile telecommunications operators. Spectrum policy is paramount as spectrum is a scarce resource allocated by regulatory authorities. Hence, when allocating spectrum and determining the potential use of spectrum, the regulatory authorities have a significant influence on the competitive situation in mobile markets.     

Structure of US aquaculture: Developments in politics,organization and research

The author examines the politics of the changing legal and support system for US aquaculture, at federal and state levels. The history of the industry is discussed, and recent investments in research and farming are outlined. It is concluded that sociopolitical conflicts and legal uncertainties have created obstacles to the modernization of the industry.     

资源、经济与政治:萨哈林油气项目全景式扫描

截至目前,在萨哈林岛上及周边海域共发现75个油气田,陆上勘探较为成熟,海上勘探程度相对较低,具有较大的勘探潜力.据IHS数据库的资料(2007年),萨哈林地区石油地质储量为94.03亿桶,天然气可采储量为38.40万亿立方英尺,凝析油可采储量为5.67亿桶.萨哈林1号、萨哈林2号的对外合作为产品分成协议模式,其他项目为矿税制合同模式.由于萨哈林1号、2号项目的产品分成协议条款对俄方有诸多不利,俄政府对产品分成协议的授予做出了严格限制.鉴于俄政府利用国有化政策、环保政策等调控外资项目,外国石油公司在俄罗斯开展业务时,必须将自身利益与俄罗斯国家石油公司的利益联系在一起,以规避风险.萨哈林地区的油气开发对俄罗斯远东地区能源供应结构调整以及经济发展具有深远影响,世界能源市场和俄罗斯都将不断地从这些大型油气项目开发中获益.我国应充分利用政治、经济及地缘优势,采用多种方式,探讨与俄罗斯共同开发远东,尤其是萨哈林地区能源资源的可行性.