Karsten Ronit - Böcker

Private Organisation in Global Politics is a groundbreaking study which brings together a broad range of case-studies to examine the role and character of private organisations in the process of political globalization. Focusing on areas such as human rights organisations, the international women's movement and the combating of disease, the panel of expert contributors investigate the function of these in relation to governance in the globalizing world.

We are in a critical period where civil society organizations actively influence business political behaviour, while corporations and business associations are adopting new and flexible strategies aimed at closer contact with civil society. Against the backdrop of such broad reorientations, this book analyzes the new and changing roles of business and civil society actors to offer an accurate portrayal of the formation of global public policy. With contributions from leading experts in the field, it investigates the potential for, and emergence of, new policy arrangements along with their patterns of conflict and cooperation. Building upon theoretical inspirations from various traditions studying international affairs, this volume develops and applies the concepts of policy arrangements and countervailing power to the field of global business - civil society relations. A range of key issues including labour, consumers, global finance, the mining industry, climate policy and the World Economic and Social Forums are examined.Global Public Policy will be of strong interest to students and researchers of international political economy, international relations and international business.

We are in a critical period where civil society organizations actively influence business political behaviour, while corporations and business associations are adopting new and flexible strategies aimed at closer contact with civil society. Against the backdrop of such broad reorientations, this book analyzes the new and changing roles of business and civil society actors to offer an accurate portrayal of the formation of global public policy. With contributions from leading experts in the field, it investigates the potential for, and emergence of, new policy arrangements along with their patterns of conflict and cooperation. Building upon theoretical inspirations from various traditions studying international affairs, this volume develops and applies the concepts of policy arrangements and countervailing power to the field of global business - civil society relations. A range of key issues including labour, consumers, global finance, the mining industry, climate policy and the World Economic and Social Forums are examined.Global Public Policy will be of strong interest to students and researchers of international political economy, international relations and international business.

As corporate activity continues to expand in line with the continued globalization of the economy there is an increasing demand for establishing rules to regulate the trans-boundary activities of firms and their many and complex relations with consumers. Until now, sources of knowledge in this field have been scattered and unsystematic and this volume fills a key gap in current literature, providing a concise and accessible introduction to the role of global consumer organizations. The book: Provides an historical overview that traces the early attempts made before WWII to formulate elements of global consumer policy, highlighting key issues and initiatives up until the 1980s. Outlines the groups of organizations that are responsible for dealing with consumer issues in areas such as trade and development, socio-economics and the environment, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and World Bank. Analyses the group of special intergovernmental organizations that address the problems of specific consumer segments, industries and service-providers, including the World Health Organization, International Telecommunication Union and World Tourism Organization. Evaluates both current and future challenges and dilemmas facing consumer organizations, including addressing the continued issues of coordination between them. Providing a much-needed overview of this key area in international organization, Global Consumer Organizations will be of interest to students and scholars in a range of areas, including international political economy, consumer behaviour, international organizations, economic policy and consumer behaviour.

As corporate activity continues to expand in line with the continued globalization of the economy there is an increasing demand for establishing rules to regulate the trans-boundary activities of firms and their many and complex relations with consumers. Until now, sources of knowledge in this field have been scattered and unsystematic and this volume fills a key gap in current literature, providing a concise and accessible introduction to the role of global consumer organizations. The book: Provides an historical overview that traces the early attempts made before WWII to formulate elements of global consumer policy, highlighting key issues and initiatives up until the 1980s. Outlines the groups of organizations that are responsible for dealing with consumer issues in areas such as trade and development, socio-economics and the environment, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and World Bank. Analyses the group of special intergovernmental organizations that address the problems of specific consumer segments, industries and service-providers, including the World Health Organization, International Telecommunication Union and World Tourism Organization. Evaluates both current and future challenges and dilemmas facing consumer organizations, including addressing the continued issues of coordination between them. Providing a much-needed overview of this key area in international organization, Global Consumer Organizations will be of interest to students and scholars in a range of areas, including international political economy, consumer behaviour, international organizations, economic policy and consumer behaviour.

In Political Species, Karsten Ronit expertly argues that evolutionary biology can provide important sources of inspiration for analyzing the proliferation of private actors/organizations in domestic and global politics. Focusing on the evolution of a diversity of such private actors/organizations in politics, Ronit emphasizes that individuals are affected by and contribute to societal, cultural, and political evolution through a range of formal organizations and that societies, cultures, and politics influence and build upon values and norms transmitted by individuals via these formal organizations. By being mindful of these contextual factors and keeping in mind the important research done in the micro- and macro-perspectives, we can gain a better understanding of the diversity of private actors/organizations and how they evolve and adapt. Evolutionary biology teaches us that over time, different varieties emerge, specialize, and adapt to the ever-changing conditions in complex environments before accumulating into new species. Much change characterizes these processes of political evolution because actors constantly emerge and add to the existing population of private actors that, in one way or another, are engaged in politics.

In Political Species, Karsten Ronit expertly argues that evolutionary biology can provide important sources of inspiration for analyzing the proliferation of private actors/organizations in domestic and global politics. Focusing on the evolution of a diversity of such private actors/organizations in politics, Ronit emphasizes that individuals are affected by and contribute to societal, cultural, and political evolution through a range of formal organizations and that societies, cultures, and politics influence and build upon values and norms transmitted by individuals via these formal organizations. By being mindful of these contextual factors and keeping in mind the important research done in the micro- and macro-perspectives, we can gain a better understanding of the diversity of private actors/organizations and how they evolve and adapt. Evolutionary biology teaches us that over time, different varieties emerge, specialize, and adapt to the ever-changing conditions in complex environments before accumulating into new species. Much change characterizes these processes of political evolution because actors constantly emerge and add to the existing population of private actors that, in one way or another, are engaged in politics.

Global business tends to be perceived as a number of individual but powerful multinational corporations, capable of controlling markets and influencing political decisions; in fact, global business is highly organized through a plethora of associations that bring together competing companies and conflicting national businesses. Indeed, global business associations have a long history and, with accelerated globalization, further opportunities emerge for unified business action.This book fills a significant gap in the current literature, examining the pivotal role of global business associations and providing a concise and accessible overview of their different functions in a range of institutional contexts. Beginning by clarifying the concept of global business associations, the author puts their role into a historical and contemporary context in which their economic, social and political functions are sketched. Their historical origin is outlined, including the proliferation of global associations in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. He then moves on to explore and analyse the different types of actors, explaining key categories and their place in the organization of global business with chapters on peak associations (e.g. ICC and WEF), industry associations, alliances, as well as clubs and think tanks, and facilitators. Covering the history, current role and future evolution of this dynamic category of associations, this work will be essential reading for students and scholars of international political economy, international relations, international organizations and global governance.

Global business tends to be perceived as a number of individual but powerful multinational corporations, capable of controlling markets and influencing political decisions; in fact, global business is highly organized through a plethora of associations that bring together competing companies and conflicting national businesses. Indeed, global business associations have a long history and, with accelerated globalization, further opportunities emerge for unified business action.This book fills a significant gap in the current literature, examining the pivotal role of global business associations and providing a concise and accessible overview of their different functions in a range of institutional contexts. Beginning by clarifying the concept of global business associations, the author puts their role into a historical and contemporary context in which their economic, social and political functions are sketched. Their historical origin is outlined, including the proliferation of global associations in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. He then moves on to explore and analyse the different types of actors, explaining key categories and their place in the organization of global business with chapters on peak associations (e.g. ICC and WEF), industry associations, alliances, as well as clubs and think tanks, and facilitators. Covering the history, current role and future evolution of this dynamic category of associations, this work will be essential reading for students and scholars of international political economy, international relations, international organizations and global governance.

An astute assessment of democratic principles and decision-making structures in the global business world.Business is being globalized with an immense speed, but are democratic practices and decision-making structures keeping pace? Contrary to those who see democracy as irrelevant or impossible at the global level, The Challenges of Global Business Authority analyzes three dimensions of democracy- participation, accountability, and transparency-in many transnational mechanisms that seek to align global business interests with the public interest. Looking beyond these mechanisms, this volume seeks to explore the fundamental issues affecting the relationship between democracy and global business authority, such as the structural power of business itself, and the contestations over the boundary between public and private. The essays in this volume provide concrete ways that business can be made more publicly accountable to allow democratic practices to take on a more permanent role in the global business world.

An astute assessment of democratic principles and decision-making structures in the global business world.Business is being globalized with an immense speed, but are democratic practices and decision-making structures keeping pace? Contrary to those who see democracy as irrelevant or impossible at the global level, The Challenges of Global Business Authority analyzes three dimensions of democracy- participation, accountability, and transparency-in many transnational mechanisms that seek to align global business interests with the public interest. Looking beyond these mechanisms, this volume seeks to explore the fundamental issues affecting the relationship between democracy and global business authority, such as the structural power of business itself, and the contestations over the boundary between public and private. The essays in this volume provide concrete ways that business can be made more publicly accountable to allow democratic practices to take on a more permanent role in the global business world.

This comprehensive Handbook provides an analysis of the key issues, accomplishments, and challenges of research and practices related to the interactions between business and public policy.International expert contributors explore how the organizational structures of government and business have changed as the world has become more globalized, and as researchers have accumulated insights into why and how public policy is influenced by, and in turn influences, business. Examining how businesses themselves have increasingly contributed to the making and implementation of policy, chapters illuminate the most significant debates as well as the theoretical and empirical developments in these areas. This approach enables a comparison of the similarities and differences across the field of business and public policy as a whole.Identifying new directions and research questions in this rapidly evolving field, this Handbook will be a useful resource for academics and students of business and public policy, as well as related areas including corporate governance, political economy and international business. Practitioners and policy makers will also benefit from its illumination of the complex relationship between business and public policy.

This insightful book examines the role of micro-politics in the life of global industry associations. Karsten Ronit addresses the various rules and norms required to administer these associations, highlighting the importance of managing variations in complex member demands and responding to expectations in their institutional environment.Posing a variety of empirical and theoretical challenges, the author charts the state of the art in the study of industry associations, evaluating the current condition of research in the field. Ronit offers a systematic approach to the role of global industry associations, identifying, classifying and analysing the diverse population of industry associations and the expressions of micro-politics that occur within them. Addressing key dilemmas such as leadership, resource allocation and regulation, Ronit examines the many policy areas in which industry associations are active and the areas in which their activities overlap with other policy actors.Offering a critical conceptual exploration of the significance of industry associations, this cutting-edge book is crucial reading for scholars and students researching business and politics, particularly those interested in associational governance in global industries. It will also benefit practitioners working in business associations and consulting firms, as well as policymakers addressing industry associations.