Medical tourism is a relatively recent global economic and political phenomenon which has assumed increasing importance for developing countries, particularly in Asia. It has been slower to develop within the context of the tourism industry in English-speaking Caribbean countries but there is evidence that the tourism policy makers in the region perceive medical tourism as a potentially lucrative niche market. However, while the potential of medical tourism has seemingly been embraced by the region's political directorate, there has been limited discussion of the extent to which this market niche can realistically provide competitive advantage for the region. The argument of this conceptual paper is that the English-speaking Caribbean cannot hope to compete successfully in the global medical tourism market with many developing world destinations in Asia, or even with other Caribbean countries such as Cuba, on factors such as low cost, staff expertise, medical technological capability, investment in healthcare facilities or even in terms of the natural resources of sun, sea and sand. Rather, in order to achieve competitive advantage the countries of the region should, on the one hand, identify and develop their unique resources and competences as they relate to medical tourism, while, on the other hand, they should exploit the demand of the postmodern tourist for authentic experiences. Both these supply and demand side issues, it is argued, can be addressed through the development of a medical tourism product that utilises the region's indigenous herbal remedies. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]; Medical tourism is a relatively recent global economic and political phenomenon which has assumed increasing importance for developing countries, particularly in Asia. It has been slower to develop within the context of the tourism industry in English-speaking Caribbean countries but there is evidence that the tourism policy makers in the region perceive medical tourism as a potentially lucrative niche market. However, while the potential of medical tourism has seemingly been embraced by the region's political directorate, there has been limited discussion of the extent to which this market niche can realistically provide competitive advantage for the region. The argument of this conceptual paper is that the English-speaking Caribbean cannot hope to compete successfully in the global medical tourism market with many developing world destinations in Asia, or even with other Caribbean countries such as Cuba, on factors such as low cost, staff expertise, medical technological capability, investment in healthcare facilities or even in terms of the natural resources of sun, sea and sand. Rather, in order to achieve competitive advantage the countries of the region should, on the one hand, identify and develop their unique resources and competences as they relate to medical tourism, while, on the other hand, they should exploit the demand of the postmodern tourist for authentic experiences. Both these supply and demand side issues, it is argued, can be addressed through the development of a medical tourism product that utilises the region's indigenous herbal remedies. Reprinted by permission of Carfax Publishing, Taylor & Francis Ltd.

The change in the country's specialization has become a determining factor in changing the position of China in the world raw materials markets. Over the past 40 years China had been providing the catching up strategy, which led to spectacular economic transformation. The transformations included the rapid economic growth and increase of the welfare of the people, which were achieved by structural changes in the economy. The purpose of the research is to study the changes in China's specialization in the international division of labor as one of the effects of the catching up strategy. The most effective way of structural transformation of the economy is the catching up strategy with attracting foreign direct investment. The history of China's catching up strategy contains several stages with the structural transformations. The reforms in foreign trade, investment, industry have influenced on changes in the structure of the economy. At the present time China has become a major exporter of FDI. The extraction of raw materials is the main direction of its investment. During an econometric assessment of the factors, which contribute to the welfare of the people of China, it was found that industrial exports had increasingly influenced. With the increase of industrial exports by 1%, per capita GDP in China is growing at $ 2.13 million. However, the results are preliminary due to the lack of observations and can be further refined. Measures to support Chinese industrial exports are aimed not only at increasing foreign trade, but also at developing domestic trade through the import of foreign technology and attracting foreign investment. / Определяющим в изменении позиции Китая на мировых рынках сырья стало изменение специализации страны. За последние 40 лет Китай подвергся впечатляющим экономическим преобразованиям, осуществляя стратегию догоняющего развития. Преобразования нашли свое отражение в быстром экономическом росте и повышению благосостояния народа, которые были достигнуты структурными сдвигами в экономике. Наиболее эффективный способ структурной трансформации экономики — догоняющее развитие с привлечением ПИИ. История догоняющего развития Китая содержит несколько этапов по мере которых происходили соответствующие структурные преобразования. В наибольшей степени на изменение структуры экономики оказали влияние реформы в сфере внешней торговли и инвестиций, а также промышленности. На современном этапе Китай превратился в крупного экспортера ПИИ. Добыча сырья является главным направлением их вложения. В ходе эконометрической оценки факторов, способствующий росту благосостояния народа Китая было выявлено, что в наибольшей степени влияет промышленный экспорт. При увеличении экспорта промышленности на 1%, ВВП на душу населения Китая увеличивается на 2,13 млн. долларов. Однако, результаты носят предварительный характер из-за недостатка наблюдений и в дальнейшем могут быть доработаны. Меры поддержки китайского экспорта промышленности направлены не только на увеличение внешней торговли, но и на развитие внутренней за счёт импорта иностранных технологий и привлечения иностранных инвестиций.

Thesis (MA (Political Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the claim that Great Power Wars are a necessary condition for successful hegemonic ascent in the modern world-system, primarily from the standpoint of World- Systems Analysis. This study advances the conception of hegemony primarily in economic and state terms, and it was investigated, by way of a historical case study, how the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) impacted the economic domains of agro-industrial production, commerce, and finance of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and its main rival for systemic leadership, Hapsburg Spain. The variables utilised in the study were Great Power War, and the ‘material base’ of the state involved (both independent), the three abovementioned economic domains (intervening), and hegemony or defeat (dependent). The case study was primarily descriptive and explanatory, with the use of process-tracing in its compilation, and a method of within-case structured, focused comparison was utilised with the aim of tentatively producing standardised, generalised knowledge concerning the wider link between Great Power War and hegemony beyond the Dutch case. The findings of the study, although derived from only one historical case of hegemonic ascent in the modern world-system, strongly support the argument that Great Power War is necessary to secure the hegemony of the leading insular core state, which is physically removed from the fighting during the conflict, since the full mobilisation of its economy is effected, while the economies of most other core states are impaired, especially the main continental rival for hegemony. However, the ascending hegemon must also possess the requisite favourable ‘material base’. Further research on this topic is called for, given the potential destructiveness of a future Great Power War, and its role in establishing hegemony in the modern world-system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die bewering dat Groot Moontheid Oorloë ‘n noodsaaklike vereiste is vir suksesvolle hegemoniese bestyging in die moderne wêreld-sisteem, hoofsaaklik vanaf die standpunt van Wêreld-Sisteem Analise. Hierdie studie bevorder die konsepsie van hegemonie hoofsaaklik in ekonomiese en staat terme, en dit het ondersoek, deur middel van ‘n historiese gevallestudie, hoe die Dertig Jaar Oorlog (1618-1648) ingewerk het op die ekonomiese arenas van agri-industriële produksie, handel, and finansies van die Verenigde Provinsies van Nederland, en hul mededinger vir sistemiese leierskap, Spanje. Die veranderlikes wat in die studie ingespan was, was Groot Moontheid Oorlog, en die ‘materiële basis’ van die state in kwessie (onafhanlik), die drie bogenoemde ekonomiese arenas (albei tussenkomend), en hegemonie of nederlaag (afhanklik). Die gevallestudie was hoofsaaklik beskrywend en verduidelikend, en proses-nasporing (oftewel ‘process-tracing’) is in die samestelling daarvan benut, en ‘n metode van gestruktureerde, gefokusde vergelyking (oftewel ‘structured, focused comparison’) is gebruik binne die gevallestudie met die doel om tentatiewe gestandardiseerde en veralgemeende kennis te genereer wat bydra tot die verduideliking van die wyer skakel tussen Groot Moontheid Oorlog en hegemonie buite die geval van die Verenigde Provinsies. Die bevindinge van die studie, hoewel gegenereer aan die hand van slegs een historiese geval van hegemoniese bestyging in the moderne wêreld-sisteem, het sterk steun verleen aan die argument dat Groot Moontheid Oorloë nodig is om die hegemonie van die vernaamste insulêre kern staat te bewerkstellig, wat fisies verwyderd van die gevegte is tydends die oorlog, aangesien die volle mobilisasie van die ekonomie van hierdie staat bewerkstellig word, terwyl die ekonomieë van die meerderheid van die ander kernstate benadeel word, veral die vernaamste kontinentale mededinger om hegemonie. Die opkomende hegemoon moet egter ook oor die vereiste gunstige ‘materiële basis’ beskik. Verdere navorsing in hierdie veld word benodig, gegewe die waarskynlike vernietiging wat gesaai kan word deur ‘n toekomstige Groot Moontheid Oorlog, en die rol daarvan in die daarstelling van hegemonie in die moderne wêreld-sisteem.

Depuis les années 1980, les archéologues ont remarqué l'originalité des collections de céramiques trouvées sur des sites occupés par les pêcheurs basques au cours du XVIe au XVIIIe siècle sur les côtes atlantiques du Canada. Le site de Red Bay (Labrador) a été le premier à fournir une riche collection de terre cuites communes, majoliques et grès, qui ont permis aux archéologues de reconnaître une tradition céramique distincte. Pendant plus de deux siècles, ces céramiques constituent un fil conducteur qui montre la permanence des activités commerciales basques au Canada. En utilisant une approche mutualiste et comparative de quatre sites de pêche basque (Red Bay (1530-1580), Anse-à-la-Cave (1580-1630), Petit-Mécatina (1630-1713), Pabos (1713- 1760)) et leurs ports d’attache dans l’Europe atlantique, nous observons comment à partir du milieu du XVIe siècle, l’ensemble des céramiques se transforme d'un endroit à l’autre sans perdre son air distinctif jusqu'au début du XVIIIe siècle quand les témoins des céramiques basques changent radicalement. Finalement, une perspective globale qui relie les deux côtes atlantiques par le biais de ces matériaux céramiques nous aide à mieux connaître les réseaux d'approvisionnement liés aux traversées de pêche et l’espace économique complexe qui s’articule aux routes maritimes et de l’intérieur. Ces deux éléments se veulent essentiels à la compréhension de l'expansion outremers, ses materiaux laissés et son rôle dans l'économie mondiale au début de l'époque moderne. / Since the 1980s, archaeologists have remarked the originality of the ceramic collections found on sites occupied by Basque fishermen during the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries on the Atlantic coasts of Canada. The site of Red Bay (Labrador) was the first to provide a rich collection of common coarse earthenware, stoneware and majolica that allowed archaeologists to recognise a distinctive pottery tradition. For over two centuries, these ceramics form a continuous thread of materials showing the permanence of Basque commercial activities in Canada. Using a mutualistic and comparative approach to four Basque fishing sites – Red Bay (1530-1580), Anse-à-la-Cave (1580-1630), Petit-Mécatina (1630-1713), Pabos (1713-1760) – and their outfitting ports in Atlantic Europe, we will observe how this mid-sixteenth century ceramic collection was transformed from one place to another without losing its distinctive nature until the early eighteenth century, when the Basque ceramic record changes radically. Finally, through a global perspective that links the two Atlantic shores by way of these ceramic materials, we discover the supply networks for the Basque fishery, and the complex economic space that articulated its maritime and continental routes, two elements that are key to understanding the European overseas expansion and its configuration within the world economy of the early modern era.

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