When the new South African government took power in 1994, the United States (US) pictured a bright future with a strategic country. They envisioned a strong partnership in political, economic and security realms. Although the US has consistently labeled their bilateral relationship with South Africa as ‘excellent,’ government officials from both countries at the end of 2008 expressed concern about the perceived crisis that US-South African relations was in. Against this backdrop, this thesis explores the bilateral relationship between the US, a global power, and South Africa, a regional power, assessing the key issues from 1994-2008. This thesis attempts to achieve an understanding of the relationship by using a new paradigm developed by Professor Brantly Womack of the University of Virginia (US), entitled asymmetry theory. His theory, which was developed after decades of studying the political landscape between states in Southeast Asia, addresses the effects of national disparities on asymmetric bilateral relationships. This thesis breaks new ground by testing Womack’s asymmetry theory in relation to the US and South Africa, two countries located outside the continent of Asia. Moreover, this is the first study where the theory has been applied to a relationship between a global and regional power. This thesis argues that there was a considerable downward swing in US-South African relations during the Bush Administration due to the confliction of several vital principles in each country’s foreign policy, the structural implications of asymmetry, and the lack of an institution were US and South African government officials could quickly communicate to clarify any disputes or misperceptions that may have arisen. This thesis argues that the bilateral relationship has changed from normalization to normalcy throughout the time period although there are still significant hurdles to overcome in the future. Additionally, this thesis argues that the value of asymmetry theory has proven itself in its illumination of the dynamics of the relationship. / Political Sciences / D. Litt. et Phil. (International Politics)

Bakgrund: Sedan 1988 har svenska aktiebolag haft en lagstadgad skyldighet att få sina räkenskaper granskade av en kvalificerad revisor, något som snart kommer att förändras. I en pågående utredning presenterades den 3 april 2008 ett förslag om att avskaffa revisionsplikten för 96 procent av de svenska aktiebolagen från och med 1 juli 2010. Bakgrunden till detta är att fördelar för små bolag inte anses uppväga nackdelar av revisionen. Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att beskriva förändringen hos banker i kreditbedömningsprocessen vid ett avskaffande av revisionsplikten och hur dessa förändringar kommer påverka relationen mellan bank och bolag. Referensram och teori: För att analysera det empiriska materialet har intressentteorin, principal-agent teorin och teorin om asymmetrisk information använts varav samtliga är väletablerade och beprövade teorier. Teorin om tillit är en relativt ny teori som även den har använts i syfte att förklara betydelsen av tillit i näringslivet. I referensramen ges information om revision och dess grundläggande principer samt en beskrivning av banker som kreditgivare och deras kreditgivningsprocess. Metod: För att uppnå syftet har en fallstudie utförts bestående av både en kvalitativ samt en kvantitativ insamlingsmetod. Den kvalitativa delen har bestått av intervjuer med representanter från Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Nordea, SEB samt Swedbank. Ovanstående respondenter har även svarat på en enkät i syfte att komplettera med kvantitativ mätbar information. Utöver detta har litteraturstudier gjorts för att inhämta sekundär data. Slutsats: Banker kommer att drabbas av ökade kostnader till följd av revisionspliktens avskaffande. Direkta kostnader på grund av ökad risk kommer överföras på de enskilda bolagen i form av ökade krav medan dolda kostnader på grund av längre handläggningstid kommer spridas på samtliga företagskunder. / Background: Since 1988, Swedish private limited corporations have been prescribed by law to have their accounts reviewed by a qualified auditor, something that soon will be changed. In an ongoing government investigation, a proposal presented the 3rd of April 2008 suggested that 96 percent of all private limited corporations should be eased from the auditing duty as of 1st of July 2010. The background to this proposal is that advantages for the small corporations are not considered to compensate the disadvantage with auditing. Purpose: The purpose with this thesis is to describe the change for banks in the credit rating process in the case of an abolition of the auditing duty and how these changes will affect the relation between bank and corporation. Frame of references and theory: To analyse the empirical findings the authors have used the stakeholder theory, the principal-agent theory and information asymmetry theory which all are well established theories. The theory of trust is a relatively new theory that has been used in purpose to explain the importance of trust in the business world. The frame of references provides information about auditing and its basic principles as well as describing banks as creditors and their credit rating process. Method: In order to achieve the purpose, a case study consisted of both a qualitative and a quantitative collection method, have been conducted. The qualitative part consists of interviews with representatives from Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Nordea, SEB and Swedbank. The representatives above have also answered a questionnaire in purpose to complement the interview with quantitative measurable information. In excess of this, literature studies have been done to gather secondary data. Conclusion: As a consequence of the abolition of the auditing duty, the costs for banks will increase. Direct costs due to a greater risk will be transferred to the particular corporations as greater demands while hidden costs due to longer office turnaround time will be spread out on all corporation customers

<p>Bakgrund: Sedan 1988 har svenska aktiebolag haft en lagstadgad skyldighet att få sina räkenskaper granskade av en kvalificerad revisor, något som snart kommer att förändras. I en pågående utredning presenterades den 3 april 2008 ett förslag om att avskaffa revisionsplikten för 96 procent av de svenska aktiebolagen från och med 1 juli 2010. Bakgrunden till detta är att fördelar för små bolag inte anses uppväga nackdelar av revisionen.</p><p>Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att beskriva förändringen hos banker i kreditbedömningsprocessen vid ett avskaffande av revisionsplikten och hur dessa förändringar kommer påverka relationen mellan bank och bolag.</p><p>Referensram och teori: För att analysera det empiriska materialet har intressentteorin, principal-agent teorin och teorin om asymmetrisk information använts varav samtliga är väletablerade och beprövade teorier. Teorin om tillit är en relativt ny teori som även den</p><p>har använts i syfte att förklara betydelsen av tillit i näringslivet. I referensramen ges information om revision och dess grundläggande principer samt en beskrivning av banker som kreditgivare och deras kreditgivningsprocess.</p><p>Metod: För att uppnå syftet har en fallstudie utförts bestående av både en kvalitativ samt en kvantitativ insamlingsmetod. Den kvalitativa delen har bestått av intervjuer med representanter</p><p>från Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Nordea, SEB samt Swedbank. Ovanstående respondenter har även svarat på en enkät i syfte att komplettera med kvantitativ mätbar information. Utöver detta har litteraturstudier gjorts för att inhämta sekundär data.</p><p>Slutsats: Banker kommer att drabbas av ökade kostnader till följd av revisionspliktens avskaffande. Direkta kostnader på grund av ökad risk kommer överföras på de enskilda bolagen i form av ökade krav medan dolda kostnader på grund av längre handläggningstid kommer spridas på samtliga företagskunder.</p> / <p>Background: Since 1988, Swedish private limited corporations have been prescribed by law to have their accounts reviewed by a qualified auditor, something that soon will be changed. In an ongoing government investigation, a proposal presented the 3rd of April</p><p>2008 suggested that 96 percent of all private limited corporations should be eased from the auditing duty as of 1st of July 2010. The background to this proposal is that advantages for the small corporations are not considered to compensate the disadvantage with auditing.</p><p>Purpose: The purpose with this thesis is to describe the change for banks in the credit rating process in the case of an abolition of the auditing duty and how these changes will affect the relation between bank and corporation.</p><p>Frame of references and theory: To analyse the empirical findings the authors have used the stakeholder theory, the principal-agent theory and information asymmetry theory which all are well established theories. The theory of trust is a relatively new theory that has</p><p>been used in purpose to explain the importance of trust in the business world. The frame of references provides information about auditing and its basic principles as well as describing banks as creditors and their credit rating process.</p><p>Method: In order to achieve the purpose, a case study consisted of both a qualitative and a quantitative collection method, have been conducted. The qualitative part consists of interviews with representatives from Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Nordea, SEB and Swedbank. The representatives above have also answered a questionnaire in purpose to complement the interview with quantitative measurable information. In excess of this, literature</p><p>studies have been done to gather secondary data.</p><p>Conclusion: As a consequence of the abolition of the auditing duty, the costs for banks will increase. Direct costs due to a greater risk will be transferred to the particular corporations as greater demands while hidden costs due to longer office turnaround time will be</p><p>spread out on all corporation customers</p>

When the new South African government took power in 1994, the United States (US) pictured a bright future with a strategic country. They envisioned a strong partnership in political, economic and security realms. Although the US has consistently labeled their bilateral relationship with South Africa as ‘excellent,’ government officials from both countries at the end of 2008 expressed concern about the perceived crisis that US-South African relations was in. Against this backdrop, this thesis explores the bilateral relationship between the US, a global power, and South Africa, a regional power, assessing the key issues from 1994-2008. This thesis attempts to achieve an understanding of the relationship by using a new paradigm developed by Professor Brantly Womack of the University of Virginia (US), entitled asymmetry theory. His theory, which was developed after decades of studying the political landscape between states in Southeast Asia, addresses the effects of national disparities on asymmetric bilateral relationships. This thesis breaks new ground by testing Womack’s asymmetry theory in relation to the US and South Africa, two countries located outside the continent of Asia. Moreover, this is the first study where the theory has been applied to a relationship between a global and regional power. This thesis argues that there was a considerable downward swing in US-South African relations during the Bush Administration due to the confliction of several vital principles in each country’s foreign policy, the structural implications of asymmetry, and the lack of an institution were US and South African government officials could quickly communicate to clarify any disputes or misperceptions that may have arisen. This thesis argues that the bilateral relationship has changed from normalization to normalcy throughout the time period although there are still significant hurdles to overcome in the future. Additionally, this thesis argues that the value of asymmetry theory has proven itself in its illumination of the dynamics of the relationship. / Political Sciences / D. Litt. et Phil. (International Politics)