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Issues & Experts Archive > Tsunamis, Iraq, Ukraine, cultural intelligence - Issues and Experts
Tsunamis, Iraq, Ukraine, cultural intelligence - Issues and Experts
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January 05, 2005
Taking tsunamis seriously...The loss of life and devastation unfolding in Southeast Asia following December's monster earthquake and tsunami off Thailand are making experts in earthquake prone areas, such as B.C., take the natural disasters more seriously. SFU earthquake expert John Clague has long studied the occurrence of earthquakes and tsunamis around the world, especially off Vancouver Island. Clague observes that while increasing numbers of cyclones and hurricanes may be attributable to global warming, increased earthquake activity isn't. He can talk about why we are overdue for a massive shaker.
John Clague, 604.291.4924, jclague@sfu.ca
Pre-election violence escalates in Middle East…Two key Sundays in January will likely be anything but peaceful in the Middle East. The approach of elections in Palestine (Jan.9) and Iraq (Jan. 30) is increasing levels of insurgence and violence as political factions in both areas try to control or prevent the elections. SFU historian and Middle East expert Bill Cleveland can comment on the increasing pre-election instability and its likely impact on what is supposed to be a democratic process. Cleveland's new book, A History of the Modern Middle East (third edition), connects recent past events and issues in the Middle East with contemporary developments, such as intensifying hostilities between Israel and Palestine. "My interpretation laments the lack of creative leadership on both sides and views the destructive response and counter-response policies of the two parties as due, in part, to failed leadership," says Cleveland.
Bill Cleveland, 604.291.5815, clevelan@sfu.ca
Back from the Ukraine…The Ukraine's second presidential election held December 26 was monitored by over 5,000 neutral international observers, including a large observer team from Canada. Among them was Doug McArthur, a professor of public policy at SFU, whose team was sent to Sebastopol in Crimea, the base for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, where large scale fraud was suspected in the last round "Observers were received with some suspicion and even hostility, but we were able to get the job done under sometimes challenging conditions," notes McArthur, who is just back and can talk about his experience. "Some technical violations of voting law and practice were found, but on the whole the elections proceeded in a free and fair way." McArthur says it was clear that the external observers ensured that the election accurately reflected the democratic will of the majority. "The undertaking was a success, and a considerable credit to Canada, who took the lead in mobilizing this massive observer effort."
Doug McArthur, 604.786.0016; doug_mcarthur@sfu.ca
What's your CQ?...You may know your IQ, but what about your CQ? SFU business professor David Thomas says in business circles, cultural intelligence is becoming an increasingly significant new measure. “It's the capacity of a person to adapt to new cultural settings and to interact effectively with people from different cultures,” he explains, noting that the difinition and specifications of CQ are still in their infancy.“The need for scholars and managers alike to understand the influence of culture on business interactions has never been greater.” Thomas and a dozen scholars from around the globe will focus on defining cultural intelligence at a conference Jan.14-16 at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. Participants will include Dr. Richard Brislin from the University of Hawaii, who writes a column on management for a Honolulu daily newspaper, and Bjorn Ekelund, one of the best known consulting psychologists in Scandinavia.
David Thomas, 604.291.5409; dcthomas@sfu.ca
John Clague, 604.291.4924, jclague@sfu.ca
Pre-election violence escalates in Middle East…Two key Sundays in January will likely be anything but peaceful in the Middle East. The approach of elections in Palestine (Jan.9) and Iraq (Jan. 30) is increasing levels of insurgence and violence as political factions in both areas try to control or prevent the elections. SFU historian and Middle East expert Bill Cleveland can comment on the increasing pre-election instability and its likely impact on what is supposed to be a democratic process. Cleveland's new book, A History of the Modern Middle East (third edition), connects recent past events and issues in the Middle East with contemporary developments, such as intensifying hostilities between Israel and Palestine. "My interpretation laments the lack of creative leadership on both sides and views the destructive response and counter-response policies of the two parties as due, in part, to failed leadership," says Cleveland.
Bill Cleveland, 604.291.5815, clevelan@sfu.ca
Back from the Ukraine…The Ukraine's second presidential election held December 26 was monitored by over 5,000 neutral international observers, including a large observer team from Canada. Among them was Doug McArthur, a professor of public policy at SFU, whose team was sent to Sebastopol in Crimea, the base for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, where large scale fraud was suspected in the last round "Observers were received with some suspicion and even hostility, but we were able to get the job done under sometimes challenging conditions," notes McArthur, who is just back and can talk about his experience. "Some technical violations of voting law and practice were found, but on the whole the elections proceeded in a free and fair way." McArthur says it was clear that the external observers ensured that the election accurately reflected the democratic will of the majority. "The undertaking was a success, and a considerable credit to Canada, who took the lead in mobilizing this massive observer effort."
Doug McArthur, 604.786.0016; doug_mcarthur@sfu.ca
What's your CQ?...You may know your IQ, but what about your CQ? SFU business professor David Thomas says in business circles, cultural intelligence is becoming an increasingly significant new measure. “It's the capacity of a person to adapt to new cultural settings and to interact effectively with people from different cultures,” he explains, noting that the difinition and specifications of CQ are still in their infancy.“The need for scholars and managers alike to understand the influence of culture on business interactions has never been greater.” Thomas and a dozen scholars from around the globe will focus on defining cultural intelligence at a conference Jan.14-16 at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. Participants will include Dr. Richard Brislin from the University of Hawaii, who writes a column on management for a Honolulu daily newspaper, and Bjorn Ekelund, one of the best known consulting psychologists in Scandinavia.
David Thomas, 604.291.5409; dcthomas@sfu.ca