Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The paper tackles the essential question of who or what shapes and drives the policy and operational behavior of the World Bank? The central argument is that we need to examine both the external (political) and internal (bureaucratic culture) environments of the Bank. The paper begins by examining the theoretical and analytical tools employed by principal-agent models and sociological organizational culture to analyze organizational behavior. I then turn to the main focus of the paper, which is a detailed historical description and empirical analysis of the Bank’s dual environments. I start with the world’s Bank, focusing primarily on the Bank’s relationship with its principal member states and NGOs. I take special note of the Bank’s relationship with the U.S.. In the second half, I focus on the “Bank’s world”, investigating the internal bureaucratic politics and culture of the Bank. Specifically, I examine the sources and evolution of the Bank’s “intellectual culture” (characterized by its economistic, apolitical and technical rationality) and its ‘operational culture’ (portrayed as driven by approval and disbursement imperatives).

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Testing the proposition that the social organization of the human species (world system) is subject to a millennial evolutionary process whose three major phases (ancient,classical, modern) may be documented with systematic data collected on cities -3700 to 1000.

Publication Type: Presentation
Abstract: Antisemitic patterns of thought are deeply connected to ideas about a Jewish world conspiracy. Such a binary world-view where others conspire with evil intention has been termed ‘projectivity’ in the California F-Scale or conspiracy mentality (Moscovici). More recent approaches in authoritarianism research have neglected such a pattern of thought although it might help to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the connection between antisemitism and a personalized anti-capitalism and anti-Americanism on the one hand and the difference between antisemitism and other group-based prejudices on the other hand. In a first study we could show that the correlation between antisemitism and anti-capitalism and anti-Americanism collapsed when conspiracy mentality was controlled for and that conspiracy mentality had incremental validity in explaining antisemitism over and above modern conceptions of right-wing authoritarianism alone. The main results were replicated in an online study with a larger sample and additional discriminative validity was provided. The implications of these results are discussed with regard to the differentiation between antisemitism and other forms of prejudice and the role of conspiracy mentality in political views.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Patriarchal structures have existed for nearly 6,000 years, with the current dominant and states-supported multinational corporate capitalist structure (globalization from above - GFA) being the latest stage of patriarchy. This most recent form of patriarchy subsumes all countries into a global class system that is characterized by asymmetrical development, environmental and ecological destruction and enormous inequalities between the haves and have-nots of the world. Women, children and the very poor are particularly brutalized by this system. It is a system maintained by and dependent upon ever-increasing forms of structural and direct violence, particularly highly technologized and militarized violence. In the midst of this annihilationist historical moment is the development of a global peace movement – an expression of globalization from below (GFB). During the few months preceding the US-led illegal invasion/war in Iraq of March 2003, a worldwide anti-war/peace movement rapidly surfaced, demanding that the United Nations Weapons Inspections be allowed to continue and that no war on Iraq take place without the support of the United Nations Security Council. Millions of people around the world took to the streets to oppose this U.S.-led war on Iraq. Even in countries where political elites supported the U.S. preemptive strike war, (e.g. United Kingdom and Spain), millions of people in civil society opposed their governments' positions by marching in protests, holding vigils and rallies, and e-mailing petitions of dissent across the globe. This global peace movement phenomenon reflects a growing global civil society which adopts as its core such values as cooperation, conciliatoriness, compassion, interdependence, fairness, inclusion, reciprocity and egalitarianism – qualities and characteristics most often associated with the feminine. Using the recent global peace movement as a case study, this work explores a major dichotomy that appears to be taking place in the world today – the masculine dominant GFA counter positioned by an evolving global alternative (GFB) rooted in the feminine. Thus, the research by Nancy Lee Wood links the rapid rise of popular resistance to the Iraqi invasion to the growth of a global civil society, rooted in feminine values, converging across national borders. Through the NGO Forums convened alongside the official intergovernmental, U.N. sponsored world conferences and at the World Social Forums convened in Brazil over the past three years, this global civil society has begun to evolve a vision of democratic, self-governance more radical and more feminine-based than can be accommodated by contemporary neo-liberal structures.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: India as World Power Providing Connectivity in a Fragmenting World The paper argues that despite challenges India has the capacity to become a world power by means of economic transformation and defining itself as a bridging power. The term 'great power' need be seen in a 21st Century setting rather than in its historical context-- the ability of a nation to bend other nations to its will through coercive use of force. In the alerted global environment, power flows out of the barrel of economics rather than politics. History shows that economic growth is perhaps the key ingredient of a nation's security and power in the modern world. China's rise to a near superpower status over the past 25 years is principally due to her fast, sustained economic growth during this period. The political collapse of the erstwhile superpower, USSR, in 1990 followed many years of economic weakness and low growth. And the current global supremacy of the United States was greatly helped by its longest and strongest economic boom of 1992-2000. The world and India are bullish about the Indian economic performance in the next 20 or even 50 years. A recent Goldman Sachs report has projected Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICS), as the new global economic super power. If they keep their recent rapid growth rates, it predicts very significant shifts in world power balances and India is projected to grow fastest . Asian Development Bank and a number of economists too are optimistic about India's future economic performance and that for valid reasons. There are remarkable features of India's economic performance over the last two decades. It has experienced a very high growth rate of output per capita (3.8 percent) surpassed only by China and east Asian countries. Its growth has been most stable surpassing even China and east Asian countries. About 60 percent of its growth has come from the rise in total factor productivity, a performance that was only surpassed by China, and hence sustainable in future. India is riding on a wave of growth fundamentals such as demographic transition, huge reservoir of young and world class human resources, improved incentive structure and security environment and diffusion of new technologies such as information technology. Yet another (but underrated) basis for strong growth is country's good economic and political institutions - a stable democratic polity, reasonable rule of law and protection of property rights. They need to be reformed, nurtured and fine tuned but they collectively represent an opportunity to leapfrog into a new phase of growth. India's forex reserves are at record levels and rising, inflation is low, the share of services in GDP has increased to 50.8 percent and industry is picking up. Fiscal fundamentals are, however, grim and worsening - a large fiscal deficit in the order of about 11 percent and public debt amounting to about 75 percent of GDP. This is particularly important due to link between fiscal consolidation, investment and growth. Inadequate infrastructure, slow growth of employment, poor performance in human development and regional disparities are other major areas of concern. The new government that has taken over will have to take care of them and needed reform issues. The optimistic growth projections assume maintenance of growth supportive policy settings. In recent decades, India has done well in building up its economic and military power - growth rate has picked up, nuclear arsenal acquired and military modernised.This has enhanced India's international standing but this can not be the ultimate end. The mere possession of economic and military force can be a recipe for catastrophe. The very states that have operated with purely instrumentalist view of power and international relations have caused havoc in the world order and disaster for themselves: think of the two world wars and the fate of Japan and Germany. The former U.S. President Bill Clinton has rightly said The world can not afford for India to be a pigmy, you have to be a giant, but you have to be the right kind of giant. A giant that dominates the world on the basis of its size and power or a giant who believes in co-operative, multiplipolar world which accommodates the legitimate aspirations and interests of all its component poles and of the inter national community as a whole. India seeks a more decisive role in a world where asymmetries of power are taking new and complex forms . Historically, it has positioned itself between rich and the poor - and between contending ideological groups. Its primary mode of exercising autonomy in the international domain has been negative. In coming years, India can define itself as an intermediary or bridging power. It can play a unique role: poised between the rich states and the poor, and between the US and China. It assures both independence and indispensability. India could become a power that provides the essential connectivity in a fragmenting world - this would guarantee her a status of affirmatory super power or of a right kind of giant. A success in current peace initiatives with Pakistan would be a vital step towards India's gaining greater voice and recognition as a world power. The timing is right for India.It has the potential and has begun well.It can overcome the challenges by wise leadership, clever diplomacy, peace and economic progress. The future belongs to India and hence to a better and humane world. ----------------