DOCSLIB.ORG

1 September 2018 Réttur

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
1 September 2018 Réttur 1 SEPTEMBER 2018 RÉTTUR - AÐALSTEINSSON & PARTNER’S COMMUNICATION ON PROGRESS TO THE UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT Réttur Aðalsteinsson & Partner’s fourth annual report on the implementation of the United Nations ten global compact principles and sustainable development goals. INTRODUCTION As a responsible global citizen, Réttur has long been committed to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable practices. During the last 12 months, we remained dedicated and focused in our efforts to advance on our sustainable initiatives and the implementation of United Nation’s ten global compact principles, which are deeply embedded in our culture and business operations. We are therefore pleased to contribute our fourth communication on progress, highlighting some of the most positive steps taken during the reporting period in furtherance of our sustainability goals. WHO WE ARE Réttur traces its origins back to 1969 when Ragnar Aðalsteinsson, one of Iceland’s leading attorneys started his private practice in Reykjavík. Today, Ragnar’s partners at Réttur include; Supreme Court Attorneys Sigríður Rut Júlíusdóttir, Sigurður Örn Hilmarsson as well as District Court Attorneys, Sigrún Ingibjörg Gísladóttir, Kári Hólmar Ragnarsson and Friðrik Ársælsson. Réttur is internationally recognized for professionalism and the highest quality legal services and is ranked as a top-tier firm by The Legal 500. Réttur is also ranked by Creditinfo in 2017 as one of Iceland’s leading companies in terms of its strength and stability. In addition, Réttur received during the reporting period an award for excellence from the Icelandic Financial News (Icel. Viðsiptablaðið) and Keldan. The Keldan award is granted to only 2% of Icelandic companies that fulfil the strict conditions by Icelandic Financial News and Keldan to qualify as Excellent in Iceland. WHAT WE DO AND WHO WE HELP Our attorneys have extensive experience in litigation and have worked on complex cases in numerous areas of law. The firm remains true to the philosophy Ragnar Adalsteinsson, the firm’s senior partner, started with; giving members of the public a fair chance to pursue their rights. We therefore work for companies and individuals alike. Our main areas of expertise include; human rights law, immigration and refugee law litigation, copyright law, constitutional law, property rights law, insolvency law, tort law, competition law, company law and contract law. For decades Réttur has worked in close cooperation with our highly knowledgeable counterparts in Scandinavia, the UK, Germany and the United States to provide our 2 clients with appropriate advice regarding their legal situation in the respective country or region. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Company Name Réttur- Aðalsteinsson & Partners ehf. Address Klapparstígur 25-27, 101 Reykjavík. Telephone/website +354-511-1206/ www.rettur.is Number of Employees 12 3 ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT Réttur has been a participant of the United Nations Global Compact since 2014. Réttur is reporting according to the UN Global Compact “GC Active level” and describes herein how it implements the United Nations ten global compact principles and sustainable development goals. This document furthermore includes a letter from our CEO and Senior Partner, Ragnar Aðalsteinsson, Supreme Court Attorney, reaffirming our continued support for the United Nations Global Compact ten principles and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “As a global citizen, Réttur - Aðalsteinsson & Partners firmly believes that advancing on our sustainability practices is essential to our growth and longevity. We have therefore taken various steps throughout the reporting period, 2017-2018, with the aim to further integrate the ten principles of the UN Global Compact into our business strategy, culture and operations.” Yours sincerely, Ragnar Aðalsteinsson Senior Partner, CEO Réttur - Aðalsteinsson & Partners 4 IMPLEMENTING THE TEN PRINCIPLES INTO STRATEGIES AND OPERATIONS I. HUMAN RIGHTS- PRINCIPLES 1 AND 2 - Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights - Make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuse - Measurement of Outcome As a leading law firm in the practice of human rights law in Iceland, we pride ourselves in the supporting, respecting and protecting human rights for all persons. We are honoured to play a vital role in the advancement and the respect for human rights for all, both within our own organisation and the community at large. Recognising that the very nature of our operation is guided by the respect for human rights, we continued throughout the reporting period to proudly demonstrate our support and demand for the highest human rights standards and remained non-complicit with human rights abuse by utilizing every resource at our disposal. In advancement of these objectives, we continued throughout the period to improve our efforts to integrate and disseminate the global compact principles and its sustainable goals in all areas of our operations and business strategy. In so doing, we placed significant focus on the enhancement of our best practices regarding how we contribute to the development of the best human rights standards in Iceland, regionally and internationally. Our main method of execution is through continued, respect for the relevant laws and regulations governing human rights in Iceland, advocating for legislative and policy changes affecting human rights, encouragement and support for the active participation of our employees in all initiatives aimed at maintaining and enhancing knowledge in the field. For each action, we measure the outcome, by identifying areas of success and areas for improvement. A. Highlights from our main activities during 2017-2018 i. Réttur’s efforts to improve human rights legislation and policies The Icelandic government has long been criticised, by human rights bodies, including by the European Commission Against Racism & Intolerance ECRI in its 2017 report, for not having a comprehensive non-discrimination legislation. Réttur has throughout the 5 years, including during the reporting period, advocated for and raised the attention of the Icelandic government to the importance of implementing two key pieces of legislation on non- discrimination, i.e. Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin and Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation. At Parliamentary inaugural ceremony hosted by the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association on 14 December 2017, one of our team members delivered an address to ministers of parliament emphasizing the need for the implementation of the aforementioned Directives. On 11 June 2018, the Icelandic parliament, Althing, passed legislation implementing the aforementioned directives (Act no 85/2018 and Act no 86/2018), which are aimed at improving the human rights situation of all persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin and ensure for them equal treatment in employment and occupation. Following the 28 October 2017 general elections in Iceland, the new coalition government formed by the Left-Green Movement, Independent Party and the Progressive Party. On 30 November 2017, the government introduced in its manifesto, the government’s policy and focus on human rights and equality, stating that “the government places emphasis on gender equality”. While Réttur remains fully supportive of the government’s agenda on gender equality, we also believe in equality for all. Guided by those beliefs, we use every opportunity, inside and outside the courtroom, including engaging in public discourse on non-discrimination reiterate that stance. ii. Immigrant issues and the Metoo movement During the height of the MeToo campaign, our teammates engaged in direct and indirect dialogue with the government, highlighting the need for policy reform, which entails a broader approach to addressing equality issues in Iceland, given the vulnerable position of other groups, including but not limited to women of foreign origin. During the MeToo campaign, women of foreign origin revealed extreme levels of sexual harassment and violence toward them, within their homes and workplace. Our teammates took active role in the public discourse, appearing on several news medias, including the national media, and took active part in events, including the One Billion Rising Event hosted by Un Women and delivered address alongside First Lady of Iceland, Ms Eliza Reid, with the aim of shedding light on equality situation of women 6 of foreign origin. The Prime Minister on 28 January 2018 made a public declaration that she would review the situation of immigrant women by placing it as an item on the agenda of the New Council of Ministers for Gender Equality. During the local government elections in Reykjavík in spring of 2018, one of our teammates was elected the spokeswoman for immigration issues on behalf of candidates of the Independence Party. On 6 June 2018, we were received a grant from the Immigrant Development Fund to conduct a research on the, “The Equal treatment of immigrants on the labour market: Possibilities for employment within the public sector as qualified professionals “. We anticipate the conclusion and publishing of our findings in 2019. iii. Continued cooperation with the Icelandic Bar Association During the reporting period, Réttur continued to encourage and fully support
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Exploring Human Rights in the Police Education an Icelandic Case Study
    Exploring Human Rights in the Police Education An Icelandic Case Study Anne-Marie Tremblay-Quenneville Thesis for a BA degree Faculty of Education and Diversity Exploring Human Rights in the Police Education An Icelandic Case Study Anne-Marie Tremblay-Quenneville Thesis for BA degree in International Studies in Education Supervisor: Susan Elizabeth Gollifer Faculty of Education and Diversity University of Iceland School of Education June 2019 Exploring Human Rights in the Police Education: An Icelandic Case Study This thesis satisfies 10 credits towards a BA in International Studies in Education in the Faculty of Education and Diversity, University of Iceland School of Education © Anne-Marie Tremblay-Quenneville, 2019 This thesis may not be copied in any form without author permission. Abstract Changing demographics combined with the globalization brought new challenges to the Icelandic society. For instance, the new ethnic diversity in the population provoked tensions between police officers and marginalized groups. Almost at the same period, in 2016, the police education moved from the police academy to a university degree, in a program where human rights are a key concept to better the practices. My research questions are how human rights are addressed in the Icelandic police education and how they inform their professional development? The focus was put on examining two courses of the program and Tibbitts Accountability/Professional Development human rights education model. I conclude that the courses include the main features of the model, by amongst other using efficient teaching and learning strategies to help the police officers to protect and reduce human rights violation, but that they would likely gain to include a better critical reflective component.
    [Show full text]
  • Power, Communication, and Politics in the Nordic Countries
    POWER, COMMUNICATION, AND POLITICS IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES POWER, COMMUNICATION, POWER, COMMUNICATION, AND POLITICS IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES The Nordic countries are stable democracies with solid infrastructures for political dia- logue and negotiations. However, both the “Nordic model” and Nordic media systems are under pressure as the conditions for political communication change – not least due to weakened political parties and the widespread use of digital communication media. In this anthology, the similarities and differences in political communication across the Nordic countries are studied. Traditional corporatist mechanisms in the Nordic countries are increasingly challenged by professionals, such as lobbyists, a development that has consequences for the processes and forms of political communication. Populist polit- ical parties have increased their media presence and political influence, whereas the news media have lost readers, viewers, listeners, and advertisers. These developments influence societal power relations and restructure the ways in which political actors • Edited by: Eli Skogerbø, Øyvind Ihlen, Nete Nørgaard Kristensen, & Lars Nord • Edited by: Eli Skogerbø, Øyvind Ihlen, Nete Nørgaard communicate about political issues. This book is a key reference for all who are interested in current trends and develop- ments in the Nordic countries. The editors, Eli Skogerbø, Øyvind Ihlen, Nete Nørgaard Kristensen, and Lars Nord, have published extensively on political communication, and the authors are all scholars based in the Nordic countries with specialist knowledge in their fields. Power, Communication, and Politics in the Nordic Nordicom is a centre for Nordic media research at the University of Gothenburg, Nordicomsupported is a bycentre the Nordic for CouncilNordic of mediaMinisters. research at the University of Gothenburg, supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
    [Show full text]
  • Mannréttindaskrifstofa Íslands the Icelandic Human Rights Center
    MANNRÉTTINDASKRIFSTOFA ÍSLANDS THE ICELANDIC HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER NOTES ON ICELAND’S COMBINED SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH PERIODIC REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION JUNE 2005 The Icelandic Human Rights Center Laugavegi 7, 3 hæð – 101 Reykjavik - Iceland Símar/Phone + 354 552 27 20 – Fax + 354 552 27 21 Netfang/ E-mail [email protected] INTRODUCTION In light of the CERD Committee’s review of Iceland’s Combined Seventeenth and Eighteenth Periodic Reports on the Implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which will be considered at the 67rt Session in Geneva, on 10 and 11 August 2005, the Icelandic Human Rights Center has undertaken to provide the following insights regarding Iceland’s implementation of the Convention, in co-operation with Icelandic NGOs and human rights experts. Before delving into the issues, certain factors of vital concern to the Icelandic Human Rights Center itself will be introduced. An abstract from the Center’s Report of Activities 2004 may be found in Addendum I. The Imperilled Existence of the Icelandic Human Rights Center In its Fourteenth Periodic Report on the Implementation of the Convention, the Government of Iceland referred to the establishment in 1994 of the Icelandic Human Rights Office (now Human Rights Center). The Report stated: 25. Two organizations have been established in the past two years specifically dealing with human rights. Firstly, the Human Rights Office was established in Reykjavik in the spring of 1994, similar to those which have existed in the Scandinavian countries for some time.
    [Show full text]
  • Digital Tools and the Derailment of Iceland's New Constitution
    A Service of Leibniz-Informationszentrum econstor Wirtschaft Leibniz Information Centre Make Your Publications Visible. zbw for Economics Gylfason, Thorvaldur; Meuwese, Anne Working Paper Digital Tools and the Derailment of Iceland's New Constitution CESifo Working Paper, No. 5997 Provided in Cooperation with: Ifo Institute – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich Suggested Citation: Gylfason, Thorvaldur; Meuwese, Anne (2016) : Digital Tools and the Derailment of Iceland's New Constitution, CESifo Working Paper, No. 5997, Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich This Version is available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/145032 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Documents in EconStor may be saved and copied for your Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. personal and scholarly purposes. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle You are not to copy documents for public or commercial Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich purposes, to exhibit the documents publicly, to make them machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. publicly available on the internet, or to distribute or otherwise use the documents in public. Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, If the documents have been made available under an Open gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort Content Licence (especially Creative Commons Licences), you genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. may exercise further usage rights as specified in the indicated licence. www.econstor.eu Digital Tools and the Derailment of Iceland’s New Constitution Thorvaldur Gylfason Anne Meuwese CESIFO WORKING PAPER NO.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Research Reports 2011
    School of Law Reykjavík University SUMMARY - ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORTS 2011 Davíð Þór Björgvinsson Professor Research Output in Peer-Reviewed Outlets Peer-reviewed book chapters Alþjóðaskuldbindingar um vernd barna gegn kynferðisofbeldi (Protection of Children against sexual violence. International obligations.). Hinn launhelgi Glæpur. Kynferðisbrot gegn börnum (Sexual Violence against Children). Ed. Svala Ísfeld Ólafsdóttir. University of Iceland Publishing House (Háskólaútgáfan) in 2011, 30 p. Presumption of Convention Compliance. Making peoples Heard. People a Voice. Essays on Human Rights in Honour of Gudmundur Alfredsson. Ed. Asbjørn Eide, Jakob Th. Möller and Ineta Ziemele. Martinus Nijhoff publishers 2011, p 293 – 304. Research Output in Non-Peer-Reviewed Outlets Scientific articles Lawyer – Client confidentiality in the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. Stage and Intermediate Meeting FBE. FEDERATION BARREAUX D´EUROPE (Federation of European Bars). Madrid 2011, p 25 -33. Talks and Presentations Title-Conferences Migrant Children and the ECHR. Lecture given at a Judicial Colloquium on the determination of best interest of the child in cases of migrant children. Organized by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Barcelona on 8 July. The Accession of the EU to the ECHR. What does it mean for the ECHR and the Court? Lecture given at the conference: The Charter of Fundamental Rights and the EU (the Lisbon Treaty) 1 Towards enhanced human rights protection. Organized by the EU, University of Iceland and University of Reykjavik, Feb. 2011. Other Research-Related Work Supervision of research projects by master‘s students Three ML thesis. Editorial work for scientific journals or books Hinn launhelgi Glæpur.
    [Show full text]
  • Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Project
    Official Assessment Karahnjú kaŕ Hydropower Project Iceland Project Stage: Operation Assessment Date: 07/09/2017 to 15/09/2017 Final Report Date: 12/07/2017 Client: Landsvirkjun Lead Assessor: Dr Joerg Hartmann, Independent Consultant Co-assessors: Dr Bernt Rydgren, Principal Environmental Consultant, Sweco; Dr Eleni Taylor-Wood, Principal Consultant, Entura Project size: 690 MW Cover page photo: Kárahnjúkar dam, with 'Vortex' art work in foreground and Snaefell mountain in background. The Hálslón reservoir is at full supply level, and the spillway is operating. Kárahnjúkar, Iceland www.hydrosustainability.org | i Acronyms Acronym Full Text ASÍ Icelandic Confederation of Labour CEO Chief Executive Officer CSR Corporate Social Responsibility DMM Dynamic Maintenance Management EU European Union EIA Environmental Impact Assessment GDP Gross Domestic Product GHG Greenhouse Gas GPS Global Positioning System GRI Global Reporting Initiative GWh Gigawatt-hour HSE Health Safety Environment IHA International Hydropower Association IMF International Monetary Fund ISK Icelandic Krona ISO International Organisation for Standardization KAR Kárahnjúkar project kV Kilovolt LV Landsvirkjun m.a.s.l. Meter above sea level MoU Memorandum of Understanding MW Megawatt NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NVE Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OH&S Occupational Health and Safety OHSAS Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series SCSI Soil Conservation Service of Iceland UNECE United
    [Show full text]
  • Halldór Laxness - Wikipedia
    People of Iceland on Iceland Postage Stamps Halldór Laxness - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halldór_Laxness Halldór Laxness Halldór Kiljan Laxness (Icelandic: [ˈhaltour ˈcʰɪljan ˈlaxsnɛs] Halldór Laxness ( listen); born Halldór Guðjónsson; 23 April 1902 – 8 February 1998) was an Icelandic writer. He won the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature; he is the only Icelandic Nobel laureate.[2] He wrote novels, poetry, newspaper articles, essays, plays, travelogues and short stories. Major influences included August Strindberg, Sigmund Freud, Knut Hamsun, Sinclair Lewis, Upton Sinclair, Bertolt Brecht and Ernest Hemingway.[3] Contents Early years 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s Born Halldór Guðjónsson Later years 23 April 1902 Family and legacy Reykjavík, Iceland Bibliography Died 8 February 1998 Novels (aged 95) Stories Reykjavík, Iceland Plays Poetry Nationality Icelandic Travelogues and essays Notable Nobel Prize in Memoirs awards Literature Translations 1955 Other Spouses Ingibjörg Einarsdóttir References (m. 1930–1940) External links [1] Auður Sveinsdóttir (m. 1945–1998) Early years Laxness was born in 1902 in Reykjavík. His parents moved to the Laxnes farm in nearby Mosfellssveit parish when he was three. He started to read books and write stories at an early age. He attended the technical school in Reykjavík from 1915 to 1916 and had an article published in the newspaper Morgunblaðið in 1916.[4] By the time his first novel was published (Barn náttúrunnar, 1919), Laxness had already begun his travels on the European continent.[5] 1 of 9 2019/05/19, 11:59 Halldór Laxness - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halldór_Laxness 1920s In 1922, Laxness joined the Abbaye Saint-Maurice-et-Saint-Maur in Clervaux, Luxembourg where the monks followed the rules of Saint Benedict of Nursia.
    [Show full text]
  • Children of a One-Eyed God: Impairment in the Myth and Memory of Medieval Scandinavia Michael David Lawson East Tennessee State University
    East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works 5-2019 Children of a One-Eyed God: Impairment in the Myth and Memory of Medieval Scandinavia Michael David Lawson East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the Comparative Literature Commons, Cultural History Commons, Disability Studies Commons, European History Commons, European Languages and Societies Commons, Folklore Commons, History of Religion Commons, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons, Medieval History Commons, Medieval Studies Commons, Scandinavian Studies Commons, and the Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Lawson, Michael David, "Children of a One-Eyed God: Impairment in the Myth and Memory of Medieval Scandinavia" (2019). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3538. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3538 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Children of a One-Eyed God: Impairment in the Myth and Memory of Medieval Scandinavia ————— A thesis presented to the faculty of the Department of History East Tennessee State University ————— In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
    [Show full text]
  • Taking Stock of Regional Democratic Trends in Europe Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic the Global State of Democracy Special Brief, January 2021 in FOCUS
    Taking Stock of Regional Democratic Trends in Europe Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic The Global State of Democracy Special Brief, January 2021 IN FOCUS The Global State of Democracy Special Brief, January 2021 Taking Stock of Regional Democratic Trends in Europe Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Key facts and findings • The COVID-19 pandemic arrived in a largely the pandemic that are concerning from a democracy democratic Europe. Only 4 countries in the region standpoint. (10 per cent) are not democracies, while many of the democracies are high performing. • The main democratic challenges caused by the pandemic in Europe pertain to the disruption of • Democracy in Europe, however, has in recent years electoral cycles, curtailment of civil liberties, the experienced erosion and backsliding. More than use of contact tracing apps, the increase in gender half of European democracies have eroded in the inequality and domestic violence, risks to vulnerable last 5 years. In particular, 3 countries—Hungary, groups, executive aggrandizement, protest waves, Poland and Serbia—have registered a more severe corruption cases and challenges in the relationship form of erosion, called democratic backsliding, with between local and national governance. Hungary regressing on its democratic standards for the past 14 years. • Europe’s democracies have mostly showed resilience, and opportunities for furthering the • The pandemic has intensified these pre-existing integrity of elections, for digitalization and for concerns. The 3 backsliding countries in Europe innovative social protests have arisen. have implemented a number of measures to curb 1 Taking Stock of Regional Democratic Trends in Europe Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic The Global State of Democracy Special Brief, January 2021 IN FOCUS 1.
    [Show full text]
  • The 2008 Icelandic Bank Collapse: Foreign Factors
    The 2008 Icelandic Bank Collapse: Foreign Factors A Report for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Centre for Political and Economic Research at the Social Science Research Institute University of Iceland Reykjavik 19 September 2018 1 Summary 1. An international financial crisis started in August 2007, greatly intensifying in 2008. 2. In early 2008, European central banks apparently reached a quiet consensus that the Icelandic banking sector was too big, that it threatened financial stability with its aggressive deposit collection and that it should not be rescued. An additional reason the Bank of England rejected a currency swap deal with the CBI was that it did not want a financial centre in Iceland. 3. While the US had protected and assisted Iceland in the Cold War, now she was no longer considered strategically important. In September, the US Fed refused a dollar swap deal to the CBI similar to what it had made with the three Scandinavian central banks. 4. Despite repeated warnings from the CBI, little was done to prepare for the possible failure of the banks, both because many hoped for the best and because public opinion in Iceland was strongly in favour of the banks and of businessmen controlling them. 5. Hedge funds were active in betting against the krona and the banks and probably also in spreading rumours about Iceland’s vulnerability. In late September 2008, when Glitnir Bank was in trouble, the government decided to inject capital into it. But Glitnir’s major shareholder, a media magnate, started a campaign against this trust-building measure, and a bank run started.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Did the Cod Wars Occur and Why Did Iceland Win Them? a Test of Four Theories
    Why Did the Cod Wars Occur and Why Did Iceland Win Them? A Test of Four Theories Sverrir Steinsson MA Thesis in International Affairs School of Social Sciences June 2015 Why Did the Cod Wars Occur and Why Did Iceland Win Them? A Test of Four Theories Sverrir Steinsson MA Thesis in International Affairs Advisors: Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir and Guðni Th. Jóhannesson Faculty of Political Science School of Social Sciences University of Iceland June 2015 This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Affairs at the University of Iceland. This thesis cannot be reproduced without the author’s consent. © Sverrir Steinsson 2015 090390-3689 Reykjavík, Iceland 2015 Abstract Few attempts have been made to provide theoretical explanations for the occurrence and outcomes of the Cod Wars. In this thesis, I test hypotheses derived from four IR theories and perspectives on the Cod Wars: the Rationalist Explanations for War perspective, which sees information problems, commitment problems and issue indivisibility as drivers of conflict; Liberal IR theory, which expects democracy, commercial ties, and institutions as pacifying influences; Structural Realism, which expects states to pursue their security interests; and Neoclassical Realism, which expects statesmen’s pursuit of security interests to be distorted by domestic pressures. I find that Liberal and Structuralist Realist expectations were not met, that rational miscalculation and misinformation contributed to the occurrence of the disputes, and Neoclassical Realist expectations were fully met in all of the disputes. Following these tests, I provide a new, structurally informed explanation of the Cod Wars.
    [Show full text]
  • Thorir's Bargain: Gender, Vaðmál and The
    Thorir’s bargain: gender, vaðmál and the law Michèle Hayeur Smith Abstract Archaeological textiles from Iceland have not been objects of significant analyzes until recently, yet they provide important new data on the use of cloth in legal transactions. Medieval Icelandic law codes and narrative sources include regulations governing the production of ‘legal cloth’–vaðmál – and its uses for paying tithes and taxes, for economic transactions and in legal judgments. Archaeological data provide new insights on its production, the extent to which these laws were followed, and how ubiquitously Iceland’s ‘legal’ cloth was produced. This paper compares documentary sources and archaeological data to docu- ment intensive standardization in cloth production across Iceland from the eleventh to the late sixteenth centuries. The role of women as weavers is critical, as it is they who oversaw production and ensured that regulations were respected and as a result they may have been bestowed with more power than previously anticipated. Keywords Icelandic medieval textiles; vaðmál; cloth currency; cloth as currency and the law; gender and cloth. Introduction Late in the tenth century, according to the thirteenth century Ljósvetninga Saga, a Norwegian merchant named Helgi struck a bargain with an Icelandic farmer named Thorir Akraskegg in northern Iceland’s Eyjafjörður district. Thorir agreed to purchase goods from the merchant with woven cloaks, which he brought to the ship as payment; but in Helgi’s haste to depart they were not immediately examined. At sea, Helgi examined the cloaks and found they were full of holes, upon which he exclaimed, ‘This is a great fraud, and it’s going to turn out badly for him’ (Andersson and Miller 1989, 170).
    [Show full text]