- Department of Government and Politics, UCC, Cork, Ireland
SHSS, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
- Neil Collins is Emeritus Professor of Government at University College Cork, Ireland. He is currently also Professor ... moreNeil Collins is Emeritus Professor of Government at University College Cork, Ireland. He is currently also Professor of Political Science at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan. He is a past president of the Political Studies Association of Ireland and a former Centennial Scholar at the American Political Science Association in Washington DC. His research interests include political marketing, regulation and governance, corruption, politics of China and the EU.edit
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ABSTRACT Political marketing advances by engaging with new and advanced concepts from both of its parent disciplines. One of the most recent fields of brand research—the study of the human brand—is taken into the political marketing arena... more
ABSTRACT Political marketing advances by engaging with new and advanced concepts from both of its parent disciplines. One of the most recent fields of brand research—the study of the human brand—is taken into the political marketing arena in this essay. Human branding is an emergent topic in mainstream marketing. The value as a brand of a person who is well-known and subject to explicit marketing communications efforts is being investigated in many fields. The concept has clear prima facie value in political marketing, where the role of a political leader as part of the political marketing offer has been recognized extensively. Politics is also a unique context given the relationship between leaders and parties, each of which has some unique brand associations. The process of exploring the application of human branding in politics also provides a context in which some of the interactions among party and leader, human brand, and organizational brand can be explored and further developed. Among the conclusions are that political party leaders require brand authenticity as an advocate of the party policy platform and brand authority to command the organization and deliver on the policies being advocated. Implications for party and campaign management are outlined.
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Abstract Cultural diplomacy using diasporic communities as facilitators of interaction between states has long been important. This article suggests a typology of networks of communication derived from a case study of long-established... more
Abstract Cultural diplomacy using diasporic communities as facilitators of interaction between states has long been important. This article suggests a typology of networks of communication derived from a case study of long-established diasporas living in post-independence Kazakhstan and their relationship with their European ‘homelands’. The typology juxtaposes the official stance of homeland governments expressed in formal and legal provisions with the lived experience of the diaspora communities. The study highlights the benefits of developing vibrant ‘valued’ networks of communication embracing both local diasporas and homeland embassies and agencies. In such cases, diplomatic benefits accrue to the homeland and local communities are empowered. Similarly, failing to capitalise on positive sentiment with some infrastructural support may leave an ‘expressive’ network as one of neglected potential.
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Drought is one of the significant impacts of climate change affecting agricultural productivity and subsistence for Afghanistan's farmers. Producers have applied various adaptation measures making use of their native resources in... more
Drought is one of the significant impacts of climate change affecting agricultural productivity and subsistence for Afghanistan's farmers. Producers have applied various adaptation measures making use of their native resources in response to drought. Studying the cases of the Panjab and Waras districts in the south of Bamyan province of Afghanistan, this research aims to analyse Afghan farmers' drought adaptation strategies. Farmers' adaptation strategies to drought and the effectiveness of such actions to decrease the effects of this natural hazard were studied. The adaptive strategies were categorised into five groups, including: (i) cropping practices, (ii) soil and water conservation, (iii) animal husbandry management, (iv) wage labour use and (v) financial management. Major adaptive strategies for cropping practices include growing early maturing crops, drought-tolerant crops, inter-cultivation systems, changing cropping patterns, seed treatments, growing non-traditional crops and crop rotation. Soil and water conservation adaptive actions include bund construction, watering at night, levelling land, decreasing irrigated areas, reducing water wastage and small-scale watershed management. Drought responses for livestock included supplementary feed, increased rearing of small animals, fodder cultivation and storage. Nonfarm adaptive strategies to augment income include production of handicrafts, additional unpaid family labour, borrowing money, reducing expenditures for non-food and costly food items, migration, selling assets and discontinuing agricultural activities due to drought. Data for this study was collected using a field survey with questionnaires and face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 140 farmers from Panjab and Waras districts in the study area. One of the main issues was the necessity and importance of expanding the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) support programmes for the adaptation strategies.
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Corruption in political and business life has become a prominent issue in Ireland in recent years as measured by the number and duration of parliamentary and quasi-judicial inquiries. Media interest in the topic has been intense. There... more
Corruption in political and business life has become a prominent issue in Ireland in recent years as measured by the number and duration of parliamentary and quasi-judicial inquiries. Media interest in the topic has been intense. There has been a widespread perception that corruption is rife. This view is reflected in a decline in the standing of politicians. In an October 1999 opinion poll, for example, only 20 per cent of the Irish public expressed trust in government ministers.1
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Summary In the soft-power context, health is increasingly seen as an area that generates particular diplomatic benefits, because it is ostensibly non-political and can bring both immediate and long-term advantages to the donor and the... more
Summary In the soft-power context, health is increasingly seen as an area that generates particular diplomatic benefits, because it is ostensibly non-political and can bring both immediate and long-term advantages to the donor and the recipient country equally. The endeavours of individual member states of the European Union (EU) and the input of the EU itself in Central Asia are examined to see the extent to which the initiatives in health-related areas form part of a wider diplomatic strategy and whether their effectiveness is related to the means by which the planned improved health outcomes are achieved. This article seeks to draw lessons from the European experience to increase understanding of the role of health in global diplomacy.
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The bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and the nine European Union countries examined in this policy brief are characterised by the existence of large ethnic communities or “beached diasporas”. In this policy brief, the European... more
The bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and the nine European Union countries examined in this policy brief are characterised by the existence of large ethnic communities or “beached diasporas”. In this policy brief, the European diasporas living in Kazakhstan are discussed in the context of European cultural diplomacy. The brief analyses their role and that of various specialised ethnic-cultural agencies in EU cultural diplomacy. It asks how the promotion of culture via diasporas can assist the EU in its cultural diplomacy.
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In the soft power context, health is increasingly seen as an area that generates particular diplomatic benefits because it is ostensibly non-political and can bring both immediate and long-term advantages equally to the donor and the... more
In the soft power context, health is increasingly seen as an area that generates particular diplomatic benefits because it is ostensibly non-political and can bring both immediate and long-term advantages equally to the donor and the recipient country. Since the European Union’s role in the international affairs is increasing, the EU is expected to play a central role in global health guided by the principles of solidarity, i.e. to provide an equitable and universal access to quality health services. Some commentators point to a lack of coherence and coordination between EU health and other policies1. Also, ambiguities do exist about the scope of national and European competencies in the area of health policy2. The role of the smaller member states may be unusually significant as they "use the health arena to demonstrate their commitment to the multilateral systems that provide them with a voice and allow them a leading role on the global stage”3. Thus, health diplomacy offers ...
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In the soft power context, health is increasingly seen as an area that generates particular diplomatic benefits because it is ostensibly non-political and can bring both immediate and long-term advantages equally to the donor and the... more
In the soft power context, health is increasingly seen as an area that generates particular diplomatic benefits because it is ostensibly non-political and can bring both immediate and long-term advantages equally to the donor and the recipient country. Since the European Union’s role in the international affairs is increasing, the EU is expected to play a central role in global health guided by the principles of solidarity, i.e. to provide an equitable and universal access to quality health services. Some commentators point to a lack of coherence and coordination between EU health and other policies1. Also, ambiguities do exist about the scope of national and European competencies in the area of health policy2. The role of the smaller member states may be unusually significant as they "use the health arena to demonstrate their commitment to the multilateral systems that provide them with a voice and allow them a leading role on the global stage”3. Thus, health diplomacy offers ...
In Central Asia, archaeology has become a renewed focus of attention in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The infrastructure projects associated with the BRI could have a marked impact on the preservation of... more
In Central Asia, archaeology has become a renewed focus of attention in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The infrastructure projects associated with the BRI could have a marked impact on the preservation of archaeological heritage, local understanding and use of cultural heritage. With reference to a case study centred on Kazakhstan, the paper examines the complications posed by the BRI in achieving the balance between economic development and tangible heritage preservation. While analysing weaknesses of the current legal cultural framework, it suggests that the archaeological custodianship, both local and international, should be encouraged.
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The bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and the nine European Union countries examined in this policy brief are characterised by the existence of large ethnic communities or "beached diasporas". In this policy brief, the... more
The bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and the nine European Union countries examined in this policy brief are characterised by the existence of large ethnic communities or "beached diasporas". In this policy brief, the European diasporas living in Kazakhstan are discussed in the context of European cultural diplomacy. The brief analyses their role and that of various specialised ethnic-cultural agencies in EU cultural diplomacy. It asks how the promotion of culture via diasporas can assist the EU in its cultural diplomacy.
This chapter examines the peculiarities of the political culture of Kazakhstan, a relatively new state in which it is possible to identify competing sets of attitudes and beliefs that are projected into the domestic political discourse.... more
This chapter examines the peculiarities of the political culture of Kazakhstan, a relatively new state in which it is possible to identify competing sets of attitudes and beliefs that are projected into the domestic political discourse. In doing so, it seeks to advance the theory of political culture in the context of new political structures. The chapter will suggest that, in Kazakhstan in particular, different groups of citizens can be categorised using the subdivisions of political culture with reference to their historical experiences and to their attitudes to the main political and social cleavages and divisions.
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It traces the sectarian conflicts, ethnic tensions and social adjustments of Liverpool as they affected, and indeed still affect, the city's politics. It addresses the historical anomaly of Liverpool's loyalty to the... more
It traces the sectarian conflicts, ethnic tensions and social adjustments of Liverpool as they affected, and indeed still affect, the city's politics. It addresses the historical anomaly of Liverpool's loyalty to the Conservative party; anomalous because the Liberals had a firm grip on ...
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In recent years, politicians and consultants have been very keen to 'shake up' tired bureaucracies, and executives in the public sector have come to recognise the contributions of the business management literature. However, the... more
In recent years, politicians and consultants have been very keen to 'shake up' tired bureaucracies, and executives in the public sector have come to recognise the contributions of the business management literature. However, the one-way flow of ideas from the private sector into the public sector needs to be challenged.
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In Central Asia, archaeology has become a renewed focus of attention in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The infrastructure projects associated with the BRI could have a marked impact on the preservation of... more
In Central Asia, archaeology has become a renewed focus of attention in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The infrastructure projects associated with the BRI could have a marked impact on the preservation of archaeological heritage, local understanding and use of cultural heritage. With reference to a case study centred on Kazakhstan, the paper examines the complications posed by the BRI in achieving the balance between economic development and tangible heritage preservation. While analysing weaknesses of the current legal cultural framework, it suggests that the archaeological custodianship, both local and international, should be encouraged.
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The bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and the nine European Union countries examined in this policy brief are characterised by the existence of large ethnic communities or "beached diasporas". In this policy brief, the... more
The bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and the nine European Union countries examined in this policy brief are characterised by the existence of large ethnic communities or "beached diasporas". In this policy brief, the European diasporas living in Kazakhstan are discussed in the context of European cultural diplomacy. The brief analyses their role and that of various specialised ethnic-cultural agencies in EU cultural diplomacy. It asks how the promotion of culture via diasporas can assist the EU in its cultural diplomacy.
This chapter examines the peculiarities of the political culture of Kazakhstan, a relatively new state in which it is possible to identify competing sets of attitudes and beliefs that are projected into the domestic political discourse.... more
This chapter examines the peculiarities of the political culture of Kazakhstan, a relatively new state in which it is possible to identify competing sets of attitudes and beliefs that are projected into the domestic political discourse. In doing so, it seeks to advance the theory of political culture in the context of new political structures. The chapter will suggest that, in Kazakhstan in particular, different groups of citizens can be categorised using the subdivisions of political culture with reference to their historical experiences and to their attitudes to the main political and social cleavages and divisions.