Search

Using a combination of network analysis and descriptive statistics, this study examines the extent to which six important and longstanding policy-oriented nonprofit organizations — foundations, think tanks, and policy-discussion groups — were connected via their directors with the 250 largest corporations in the United States in 1935–1936 and 2010–2011. The results demonstrate that the six nonprofit organizations included in the study were well integrated into corporate networks in both periods, and had an even greater integrative role in 2010–2011 than they did in 1935–1936. This finding supports the hypothesis that policy-oriented nonprofit organizations allow the corporate community to develop proposals, and to reach consensus, on major policy issues. This hypothesis is further supported by an overview of existing studies that illustrate the success of these organizations in shaping policy outcomes on a range of issues. Based on the overall results, the longstanding claim that corporations influence government primarily or solely at the "interest-group" level can be supplemented by the conclusion that policy-oriented nonprofits support a policy-planning process that links the corporate community to government on general issues. In addition, the findings cast doubt on the claim that the corporate community has lost its capacity for policy cohesion in recent decades, due primarily to a "fracturing" caused by a decline in bank centrality. Since general policies have been created within the policy-planning process since at least the mid-1930s, the decline in bank centrality is irrelevant to the corporate community's ability to formulate general policy proposals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudios Internacionales is the property of Instituto de Estudios Internacionales de la Universidad de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study seeks to investigate the attitudes of Moroccan EFL learners (MEFLLs) towards different varieties of English speech (World Englishes (WE)). The study utilises a direct method of attitude measurement as the study's participants are directly asked about their own explicit attitudes towards six English varieties of English speech (namely, American English, British English, Indian English, Filipino English, Japanese English and Thai English). To this end, a sample of 544 MEFLLs was recruited in the study. The findings of the study show that MEFLLs' attitudes towards varieties of English are aligned, to some extent, with those of previous studies conducted elsewhere (Jindapitak & Teo, 2012; Chien, 2018; Almegren, 2017). For example, it was found that MEFLLs, on the one hand, prefer Inner Circle Englishes (ICE) over Outer Circle Englishes (OCE) and Outer Circle Englishes over Expanding Circle Englishes (ECE) on the other hand. Another interesting finding is that the participants surveyed are already aware of English language variation, and they are willing to learn more about the different varieties of English spoken worldwide. Generally speaking, the Moroccan context seems to be a fertile setting for the discussion of World Englishes-related issues as the participants do, in fact, recognise and appreciate the sociolinguistic variation exhibited in the English language. The study concludes with a number of pedagogical implications for the choice of linguistic model(s) to be employed in EFL classrooms both inside and outside Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the fact that one of the important topics in modern sociolinguistics today is the globalisation of English (Mesthrie & Bhatt, 2008), the aim of the present paper is twofold. First, it seeks to discuss the extent to which the spread of English around the world has resulted in the emergence of new linguistic varieties of English or World Englishes (Mourchid, 2019) and how English "no longer has one single base of authority, prestige and normativity" (Mesthrie & Bhatt, 2008, p. 3). Second, the paper also seeks to provide "a rationale for proficiency testing that subscribes to the view that accepting English as the global target language requires a proficiency testing framework beyond the monolithic EFL and ESL-based tests" (Al-Kadi, 2022, p. 39). This being said, the current paper calls for a shift in paradigm from the monocentric approach, which conceives of English as being a single language, to the pluricentric approach that celebrates the linguistic variation exhibited in the English language, and which better reflects the sociolinguistic reality of present-day English, which, in turn, reflects the new trend of proficiency testing needed in a modern world where diverse varieties of English compete and struggle to find their ways in EFL classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new book by Leonid Ionin about Max Weber is a notable occurrence in the Russian history of sociology and culture. It fundamentally furthers our understanding of the nature of sociological knowledge. No one else in our historical sociological literature has tried to consider the work of a sociologist in such detail against the backdrop of the life’s, or more specifically, the personal drama, of the scientist. This required not only a deep knowledge of Weber’s works from the author, but also courage. In my understanding, Ionin’s experience can become an excellent basis of knowledge for Russian researchers of the past of Russian sociology, especially the biographies of those who created the foundation of our science.

Studies in Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC) has been extensively investigated by numerous experts in the last decade. Some models and approaches have been constructed to the purposes of developing individuals’ competency in intercultural communication context. However, some problems occurred due to cultural discrepancy. The purpose of this study is to explore strategies being used by Indonesian postgraduates’ students who were undertaking their master and doctoral programs in English speaking countries to be inter-culturally and communicatively competent. Interviews session (adopted from Fantini’s conceptual framework) with sixteen Indonesian students have been conducted to scrutinise their personal experienced and awareness in intercultural communication setting. Despite the fact that the existences of cultural diversity in inner circle countries, Indonesian students have attempted to exposure more in intercultural interaction. They converged themselves with other international students as well as with the domestic studentsin the international community. From a critical perspective, this study suggested that Indonesian students should attempt to shift out from their ‘very own’ circle. Equally significant, to be more open to initiate deeper conversation and involve in a more interactive, intercultural communication settings, with other students from different countries.

This study examined the inner, outer, and expanding circle native as well as non-native English teachers’ Pedagogical Knowledge (PK) in an English as an International Language context. The data were collected from 14 native English teachers from the inner circle and 50 non-native teachers from the outer and expanding circle, using a Pedagogical Knowledge questionnaire and semi-structured interview. The quantitative results revealed that the participants in the three groups had high perceptions of pedagogical knowledge, and that there were significant differences between the inner, outer, and expanding circle teachers in terms of their total pedagogical knowledge except for the subscale of “knowledge of learners”. The participants considered English a communication tool while not finding it necessary but helpful to become familiar with all world Englishes and the knowledge type required in those contexts.

Abstract The rise of world Englishes has challenged the emphasis on native-speaker accents and cultures in English language teaching. This study aimed to investigate the representation of world Englishes and cultures in three global language teaching textbooks, namely Interchange, English Result, and American English File. The textbooks were subjected to content analysis regarding their reference to Inner, Outer, and Expanding Circles’ varieties and their associated cultural contents. Kachru (The alchemy of English: The spread functions and models of non-native Englishes. Oxford: Pergamon, 1986) notion of Concentric Circles, and the categorization proposed by Pfister and Borzelli (Unterrichtspraxis 10:102–108, 1977) functioned as a framework to see which aspects of each culture (social, personal, religion/arts/humanities, political systems and institutions, and environmental concerns) were addressed in these textbooks. Findings revealed that most of the references to the three circles and cultural elements embodied in the textbooks were toward Inner Circle countries in American English File. Furthermore, in Interchange and English Result series, reference to Outer and Expanding Circles’ varieties and cultural elements were comparatively more evident. However, all the three textbook series mostly represented Inner-Circle accents. These findings have implications for materials developers to adopt an EIL-aware approach and to avoid the sole representation of native speakers’ linguistic norms and cultures in ELT textbooks.

The three core culture areas commonly covered by modern coursebooks are Inner Circle cultures (culture of countries where English is the first or dominant language), Outer Circle cultures (post-colonial countries where English plays a major role) and Expanding Circle cultures (other countries where it is spoken as a foreign language), as defined by Kachru (1985). The aim of this paper is to analyze how Expanding and Outer Circle cultural content is represented in English coursebooks commonly used in Serbia. The coursebooks used for this analysis were published by eminent British publishers and are widely available throughout Europe and on other continents. In order to establish cultural elements found in these coursebooks, the authors examined texts, tapescripts and other activities and tasks utilizing the Expanding and Outer Circle cultures. The authors opted for cultural elements that could be easily identified as such and used in a minimal context which can be clearly associated with a particular culture. The authors conclude that all coursebooks represent other cultures from an Inner Circle viewpoint, while the representation of other cultures ranges from their absence to equality, although the Expanding Circle cultures are typically restricted to those found in the Western world.

The terms Global English and World Englishes reflect two opposite imperial perspectives. The first highlights the success of the British Empire in spreading the language of England to various corners of the world, whereas the second subverts the race-based hierarchy that the European imperial history has added to the speciation that ensued from the geographical spread of English. Kachru (1982, 2017) captured the prestige-laden stratification that has become associated with this differential evolution of English with the opposition "Inner Circle" vs. "Outer Circle" vs "Expanding Circle", with the latter two apparently merging into one powerless Circle, while speakers of the Inner Circle claim their varieties to be "native" and the only authentic ones. In this commentary, I capitalize on this historical background to explain why Anna Kristina Hultgren is correct in using the term "Red Herring" to characterize the misidentification of English as the cause of social injustice relative to those who do not use it as a mother tongue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of world Englishes has challenged the emphasis on native-speaker accents and cultures in English language teaching. This study aimed to investigate the representation of world Englishes and cultures in three global language teaching textbooks, namely Interchange, English Result, and American English File. The textbooks were subjected to content analysis regarding their reference to Inner, Outer, and Expanding Circles' varieties and their associated cultural contents. Kachru (The alchemy of English: The spread functions and models of non-native Englishes. Oxford: Pergamon, 1986) notion of Concentric Circles, and the categorization proposed by Pfister and Borzelli (Unterrichtspraxis 10:102–108, 1977) functioned as a framework to see which aspects of each culture (social, personal, religion/arts/humanities, political systems and institutions, and environmental concerns) were addressed in these textbooks. Findings revealed that most of the references to the three circles and cultural elements embodied in the textbooks were toward Inner Circle countries in American English File. Furthermore, in Interchange and English Result series, reference to Outer and Expanding Circles' varieties and cultural elements were comparatively more evident. However, all the three textbook series mostly represented Inner-Circle accents. These findings have implications for materials developers to adopt an EIL-aware approach and to avoid the sole representation of native speakers' linguistic norms and cultures in ELT textbooks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent work has offered competing explanations for the long-term evolution of corporate political action in the United States. In one, scholars have theorized that long-term structural changes in the American political and economic landscape may have radically transformed inter-corporate network structures and changed the political orientation of corporate elites. In another, a small group of corporate elites continues to dominate government policy by advocating for class-wide interests through occupying key positions in government and policy planning groups. We offer new evidence of patterns in and predictors of political strategies among the nation's elite corporate directors. We utilize an original dataset (the Longitudinal Elite Contributor Database) linked with registries of corporate directors and their board memberships. We ask: (1) has the political activity, unity, or pragmatism of the corporate elite declined since 1982; and (2) are individuals who direct multiple firms more pragmatic in their political action? Evidence suggests that corporate elites are more politically active and unified, and continue to exercise pragmatic political strategies vis-à-vis their campaign donations. Using random- and fixed-effects models, we present evidence to suggest that becoming a member of the inner circle has a significant moderating effect on elite political behavior. We offer an alternative mechanism of elite coordination that may help explain the continued political cohesion of the corporate elite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ekstasis: Revista de Hermenêutica e Fenomenologia is the property of Editora da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (EdUERJ) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Teaching Innovations / Inovacije u Nastavi is the property of University of Belgrade, Faculty of Teacher Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although world Englishes and various teaching practices in English as an international language (EIL) have been recommended for English language curricula, the effectiveness of including a variety of Englishes in such curricula has not been fully examined. This small-scale study investigated the effectiveness of exposure to world Englishes among undergraduate students at a public university in northeast Japan. The students (N = 48) watched web-based news and presentations regularly (e.g., NHK World) in English from home and abroad, featuring native and non-native English speakers, and responded to comprehension questions. After 13 weeks of intervention, the students completed a survey questionnaire that used a 5-point Likert scale. Responses to closed-ended items in the survey were generally positive; the intervention appeared to contribute to broadening students’ view of the world, and it increased their awareness of the varieties of English currently used. In addition, the majority of the participants positively evaluated “good Japanese English” as a variety of international communication, unlike those in previous studies who had a contrasting view. However, the class did not seem to provide the students with a full sense of participation in the world of English users due to a lack of sufficient interaction in English with other EIL users. Limitations and pedagogical implications of the study are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article attempts to explain the peculiar evolution of the topology of the Indian interlocking directorates network during the periods of liberalization and corporate governance reforms. A study of interlocks among the top 50, 100 and 250 National Stock Exchange of Bombay companies in 2000 and 2012 shows that the Indian network does not follow the global trend of other 'fracturing' and 'disintegrating' corporate networks. Our results in fact show a resistance to homogenizing forces: the density of the network increases over the years, and banks and financial institutions do not play a major role in creating ties between boards. On the contrary, regional, business group, caste and family ties remain prevalent and shape a strongly embedded 'inner circle'. In particular, the growing density of the network seems to be accounted for, to a large extent, by the driving role of family-led business groups and of independent big linkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the great body of work examining the cultural content of the international and local ELT textbooks, the cultural content and elements of the ELT textbooks in the inner, outer, and expanding circle countries have seldom been reported. That said, the purpose of this study was twofold: first, it was aimed to investigate the cultural content of the ELT textbooks of the inner, outer, and expanding circle countries; and, second, to examine the cultural elements of these ELT textbooks. To that end, three ELT textbook series from inner, outer, and expanding circle countries were selected and analyzed. The results of this study showed that there were differences among the ELT textbooks of different concentric circles. While the ELT textbooks of the inner circle contained more L1 and L2 cultural content, the ELT textbooks of the expanding circle contained more L1 and international cultural content. Moreover, the ELT textbooks of the outer circle showed tendency to contain L1, L2, and international cultural content. With respect to the cultural elements, the inner and outer circle contained more L2 esthetic cultural elements, whereas the expanding circle ELT textbooks tended to represent their cultural elements through L1 esthetic and sociolinguistic cultural senses.

Introduction: An oval face, pronounced cheek bones, a defined jaw line and a smooth Ogee curve are global aesthetic beauty goals. Though criteria are similar the Indian face poses some unique challenges because of the innate differences in skeletal shape, size, and soft tissue disposition. Width of the malar prominences and mandibular angles along with height are smaller compared to the other Asian and Caucasian populations along with a much heavier soft tissue disposition. This creates unique deficits and places unique demands on aesthetic intervention. Objectives: The evolution of practice patterns has lead to a variety of newer approaches; however, it is still common to target the nasolabial and mid-face volumizing as basic intervention for facial beautifying and rejuvenation. As aging progresses, Indian faces tend to get fuller and the tissue then descends downwards similar to other ethnic groups albeit more aggressive due to higher volumes of facial fat pad and smaller bone framework. Any excess correction in the inner circle zones will further add to the bulk along with cumulative remnants of previously administered fillers. Methods: In a younger face when the goal is beautification the attempt is to address the specific structural deficit on the outer bony framework along with the chin. This enhances the appearance immediately as well as holds up the tissue descent as they age. When the goal is youthful transition of an aging face, then again the bony changes further enhance the deficit in framework and the loss of fat pads along the periphery that is lateral forehead, temples and lateral cheek. Fat pad correction will give the most natural and best results as against working on the anterior mid cheek, nasolabials and angle of the mouth in a soft tissue heavy center zone of the face. Botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers remain the most popular facial injectables used for facial rejuvenation and structural enhancement. Results: Naturally enhanced faces, and gracefully addressed aging changes are important. Fillers administered on the outer zones of the face rather than the inner zone gives better aesthetic results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

English learners have more access to communicate with different purposeful audiences across the Three Concentric Circles of English proposed by Kachru: the Inner Circle, the Outer Circle, and the Expanding Circle. However, young language learners' purposeful audience as a focus of communication has not been emphasized as much as other linguistic features in English language learning and teaching methodology. This study examines young Chinese English learners' perceptions of purposeful audiences in the context of English native speakers and non-native speakers. Data for the study were collected through a questionnaire that was sent to students (N = 120) at a public senior high school in China. The study found that Chinese English learners' perceptions of purposeful audiences were influenced by public English education, private language training schools, and English language media. This article concludes with some recommendations for young EFL learners across a variety of native languages in their English education development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Language & Linguistics Studies is the property of Journal of Language & Linguistics Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper investigates international responses to Singapore English (SgE), in terms of both intelligibility and attitudes toward the speaker, and compares it to responses to American English (AmE). It surveys 200 respondents from over 20 countries as they listen to a set of 15 sound recordings, including read SgE, spontaneous SgE, and read AmE. The results suggest that the intelligibility of SgE and AmE does differ between informants from different regions. However, the intelligibility of the test stimuli does not correlate simply to positive and negative attitudes. While SgE elicits generally positive attitudes, what is interest-ing is that the judgments of respondents from South-East Asia and East Asia are often more negative than those of English speakers of Inner Circle varieties. This seems to suggest not only an impenetrable mindset of these traditionally "non-native" English speakers, who seem to be still clamoring to speak an idealized "standard", but also an inferiority complex over their own varieties of English. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaders frequently form stronger relationships with certain subordinates moreso than others, creating an inner circle of close friendships and an outer circle of more distant relationships. Three studies examine the effects of inner-circle membership on group dynamics and interpersonal influence in hierarchical teams. Study 1 finds that, compared to outer-circle members, inner-circle members feel safer and participate in the group discussion more, and leaders recognize them as making a greater contribution and allocate a larger bonus to them. Consequently, inner-circle members influence the groups' decisions more, and team decision quality improves when inner-circle members possess expert knowledge. Study 2 finds that leaders attended to and recalled suggestions from their inner circle more regardless of argument strength, suggesting heuristic information processing. Study 3 replicates these findings using intact teams in a large governmental agency. Implications for leadership and group decision making are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period of rapid industrialisation, Korean business elites sought to establish a ruling alliance of state officials, politicians, business owners, and professional managers that formed a social coalition to influence the state and society as a whole, reinforced through extensive social and political networks with various ruling groups. The elite community has generated a high degree of self-recruitment and social closure through school, marriage and kinship networks. In this way, the leading sector of the Korean business elite has formed complex, often contingent, relations with the state elite, and acts as an integral part of the upper class in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daniel arap Moi ruled Kenya using a strategic mixture of ethnic favouritism, state repression and marginalisation of opposition forces, utilising violence, detention and torture. State predation featured, with looting of finances, land grabbing and property seizure. Moi saw his rule coming to an end in 2002, given a ‘two-term limit’ under political liberalisation. From 1998 on, Moi engaged in a carefully calculated strategy to manage the presidential succession in his and his party's favour. In this article, Moi's strategy, the reasons for its ultimate failure, and the short-lived triumph of a new popularly elected regime are analysed in relation to three pillars of Kenyan politics: ethnic representation, resource accumulation and distribution, and a system of unbounded politics that ensures that party loyalty is transient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]