The purpose of this essay is to develop a framework for the comparative study of the process of political integration among states in regional international systems. An empirical theory of political integration should provide explanations of the process in terms of: 1. the evidence that it has occurred; 2. the conditions favorable to its progress; and 3. the dynamics of change. That current theories generally lack such complete explanatory power is a consequence of: 1. the lack of a model which combines sufficient complexity with the necessary manageability; 2. the lack of extensive comparative study in areas other than Western Europe; and 3. the lack of consistency in the use of terms and concepts. In this essay, political integration is conceptualized as a multidimensional process, akin to national political development, whereby a regional or "partial" international system is transformed to resemble a single political system. In these terms, political integration is a problem both of peaceful international relations and of the optimum form of political organization. In the introductory chapter these problems are discussed and the definition of political integration is elaborated and related to theories of international relations and national political development. Most important, however, is the notion of political integration as a multidimensional process, occurring in: 1. the ways in which states interact in making decisions; 2. the performance of basic functional tasks; 3. patterns of communication; and 4. political attitudes, in the regional international system. The four main chapters of this essay discuss these dimensions in turn. The process of political integration occurs partly as change in the structures and processes through which decisions emerge from the interaction of states in the system. This, then, is the first dimension. The second is concerned with political integration as it involves changes in the performance of economic, military and social-cultural functions in the regional system. In the third dimension we are concerned with how changes in the flows of communication and in the structures and practices enhancing such flows, are related to the process of integration. Finally, the process of political integration is viewed as occurring in part as a change in the patterns of political attitudes in the regional system. The first three dimensions are all represented by major theoretical works on political integration; the presence of social-psychological assumptions in each of these, however, points to the additional need for studies of attitude change in the integrative process. A dimension, then, is primarily an analytical category. A full explanation of the process of political integration should consider the evidence of, the conditions for, and the dynamics of, integration in each of these dimensions. The essential argument of this essay, therefore, is that political integration cannot be conceived of as taking place, unless certain processes of change are occurring in the interactions among states, the performance of functions, the flows of communications, and the patterns of political attitudes, in the regional international system. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis seeks to broaden our understanding of the nature, causes and consquences of countertrade in the context of the internationalisation of the firm. A comprehensive review and assessment of previous research is presented, including a discussion of how countertrade fits within the context of the various models of the internationalisation process. An analytical framework is presented for studying a number of dimensions of internationalisation (viz forms of international behaviour and international orientation) and possible causes and effects. The forms of internatioalisation invole outward, inward linked forms (such as countertrade). Based on the literature relating to internationalisation, a number of hypotheses are developed relating various management and firms' characteristics to predisposition to countertrade. These were tested using both bi-variate and multi-variate techniques which involved the use of data generated from a nationwide sample of Australian manufacturing firms. Generally the results of the bi-variate analysis supported the hypothesis showing that the factors which predict outward driven internationalisation also tend to predict countertrade. The analysis involved three measures of internationalisation and four measures of countertrade. Firms were then grouped according to various measures of predisposition towards countertrade. Using discriminant analysis, these groups of firms were profiled according to factors found to predict countertrade in the bivariate analysis. In order to further explore the relationship between internationalisation and countertrade, firms were also grouped according to their degree of internationalisation and strength of their predisposition towards countertrade. Firms in each group were then profiled using bi-variate and multi-variate analysis. These profiles provide potentially useful classifications of firms as possible bases for targeting and designing government assistance programs. Finally, three case studies of countertrade transactions by Australian firms were undertaken using the network approach which facilitates a deeper understanding of countertrade in the context of internationalisation. In each case the networks of relationships involved were analysed at both inception and maturity, to further explore how countertrade influenced the internationalisation of the Australian firm. It was found that although the transactions would not have occurred without countertrade, in all cases countertrade led to further international business which in some instances did not require countertrade.

This thesis examines the decision by the government of Prime Minister Paul Martin in March of 2005 to deploy Canadian troops to the Kandahar region of Afghanistan a region that is considered to be one of the most perilous in the country. Indeed, the Kandahar mission has produced the highest number of deaths of Canadians in combat since the Korean War. Prior to this engagement, the Chretien government had sent Canadian troops on other missions in Afghanistan, which neither were as dangerous nor involved combat against insurgents. This thesis will seek to provide an explanation for the change in policy under the Martin government. It will argue that the decision to engage Canada in combat in Afghanistan can be understood as an expression of internationalism, whose meaning had been altered by the forces of globalization growing out of the 9/11 attacks. The methodological approach that will be used in the thesis is a case study, which draws upon established theories regarding Canadian foreign policy.

This thesis examines the decision by the government of Prime Minister Paul Martin in March of 2005 to deploy Canadian troops to the Kandahar region of Afghanistan a region that is considered to be one of the most perilous in the country. Indeed, the Kandahar mission has produced the highest number of deaths of Canadians in combat since the Korean War. Prior to this engagement, the Chretien government had sent Canadian troops on other missions in Afghanistan, which neither were as dangerous nor involved combat against insurgents. This thesis will seek to provide an explanation for the change in policy under the Martin government. It will argue that the decision to engage Canada in combat in Afghanistan can be understood as an expression of internationalism, whose meaning had been altered by the forces of globalization growing out of the 9/11 attacks. The methodological approach that will be used in the thesis is a case study, which draws upon established theories regarding Canadian foreign policy.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 234-259). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

No description available.

This thesis seeks to broaden our understanding of the nature, causes and consquences of countertrade in the context of the internationalisation of the firm. A comprehensive review and assessment of previous research is presented, including a discussion of how countertrade fits within the context of the various models of the internationalisation process. An analytical framework is presented for studying a number of dimensions of internationalisation (viz forms of international behaviour and international orientation) and possible causes and effects. The forms of internatioalisation invole outward, inward linked forms (such as countertrade). Based on the literature relating to internationalisation, a number of hypotheses are developed relating various management and firms' characteristics to predisposition to countertrade. These were tested using both bi-variate and multi-variate techniques which involved the use of data generated from a nationwide sample of Australian manufacturing firms. Generally the results of the bi-variate analysis supported the hypothesis showing that the factors which predict outward driven internationalisation also tend to predict countertrade. The analysis involved three measures of internationalisation and four measures of countertrade. Firms were then grouped according to various measures of predisposition towards countertrade. Using discriminant analysis, these groups of firms were profiled according to factors found to predict countertrade in the bivariate analysis. In order to further explore the relationship between internationalisation and countertrade, firms were also grouped according to their degree of internationalisation and strength of their predisposition towards countertrade. Firms in each group were then profiled using bi-variate and multi-variate analysis. These profiles provide potentially useful classifications of firms as possible bases for targeting and designing government assistance programs. Finally, three case studies of countertrade transactions by Australian firms were undertaken using the network approach which facilitates a deeper understanding of countertrade in the context of internationalisation. In each case the networks of relationships involved were analysed at both inception and maturity, to further explore how countertrade influenced the internationalisation of the Australian firm. It was found that although the transactions would not have occurred without countertrade, in all cases countertrade led to further international business which in some instances did not require countertrade.

This thesis seeks to broaden our understanding of the nature, causes and consquences of countertrade in the context of the internationalisation of the firm. A comprehensive review and assessment of previous research is presented, including a discussion of how countertrade fits within the context of the various models of the internationalisation process. An analytical framework is presented for studying a number of dimensions of internationalisation (viz forms of international behaviour and international orientation) and possible causes and effects. The forms of internatioalisation invole outward, inward linked forms (such as countertrade). Based on the literature relating to internationalisation, a number of hypotheses are developed relating various management and firms' characteristics to predisposition to countertrade. These were tested using both bi-variate and multi-variate techniques which involved the use of data generated from a nationwide sample of Australian manufacturing firms. Generally the results of the bi-variate analysis supported the hypothesis showing that the factors which predict outward driven internationalisation also tend to predict countertrade. The analysis involved three measures of internationalisation and four measures of countertrade. Firms were then grouped according to various measures of predisposition towards countertrade. Using discriminant analysis, these groups of firms were profiled according to factors found to predict countertrade in the bivariate analysis. In order to further explore the relationship between internationalisation and countertrade, firms were also grouped according to their degree of internationalisation and strength of their predisposition towards countertrade. Firms in each group were then profiled using bi-variate and multi-variate analysis. These profiles provide potentially useful classifications of firms as possible bases for targeting and designing government assistance programs. Finally, three case studies of countertrade transactions by Australian firms were undertaken using the network approach which facilitates a deeper understanding of countertrade in the context of internationalisation. In each case the networks of relationships involved were analysed at both inception and maturity, to further explore how countertrade influenced the internationalisation of the Australian firm. It was found that although the transactions would not have occurred without countertrade, in all cases countertrade led to further international business which in some instances did not require countertrade.