In the article, Florian Kühn argues that the US constitution, which reflects compromises rooted in protecting the power of wealthy, white men, has cemented racial and gender biases in American institutions. These biases affect voting rights, the Electoral College, and judicial appointments, often undermining the democratic process and widening social divides. Figures like Kamala Harris symbolize a defense of democracy, but they face structural barriers that the Constitution’s rigidity exacerbates. This inflexible foundation perpetuates political gridlock and polarization, leaving systemic issues unresolved, regardless of election outcomes.

Read the article

Picture: Mount Rushmore, ©Karlee-J-Photography, Pixabay

Der Beitrag New blog post “Trump might be the problem – or the US constitution” by Florian P. Kühn erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

Contention and concessions: Exploring the responsiveness of Chinese mining companies in Africa

by Jan Sändig, Jana Hönke & Claude Kabemba
A collaborative study of the INFRAGLOB project at the University of Bayreuth & Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW)

In The Extractive Industries and Society, Vol. 20, December 2024

Full article (open access)

Highlights

• Examines how major Chinese mining companies respond to resistance.
• Finds that Chinese miners concede under similar rationalist conditions as their Western and other global peers.
• Argues that intense disruptive actions and pressure from state actors and NGOs lead to concessions.
• Shows that reputational vulnerability is key for responsiveness but is lower for many Chinese companies due to China’s domestic context.

Abstract

As China’s investments are rising fast across the globe, we examine the circumstances under which Chinese mining companies concede to protest. While scholars have already identified success conditions of such struggles, it is unclear if these conditions apply to Chinese cases as well. More so, some research suggests that Chinese business practices fundamentally differ from others. Therefore, we seek to better understand Chinese corporate responsiveness by examining major mining projects from Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Our analysis draws on protest event data (collected from news and social media), interviews, and further sources to trace protests and company responses. We find that Chinese mining companies indeed concede under similar conditions as Western and other companies: recurrent disruptive actions, pressure from state actors and NGOs, and reputational concerns are key factors for their responsiveness. As we discuss, however, reputational vulnerabilities, which result from global supply chains and transnational activism, are differently distributed in the Chinese case, which undercuts the responsiveness of some major Chinese miners.

Full article (open access)

Der Beitrag New publication – Responsiveness of Chinese mining companies in Africa erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.

The German Foundation for Peace Research (DSF) awards funding to support research projects that deal with the effects of the climate crisis on peace and security. Smaller projects (like pilot projects and conferences) can be applied for at any time, while applications for larger cooperation and profile projects are subject to deadlines.

The funding line is aimed at scientists from various disciplines who work in peace and conflict research. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is supporting the call for proposals (750,000€).

To access the call for proposals, click here.

Further info can be accessed here (in German)

Der Beitrag New funding opportunity: “Responses to the climate crisis” (DSF) erschien zuerst auf Conflicts.Meanings.Transitions.