Aim: This paper investigates the conditions for inclusive design of regenerative medicine interventions from a bioethical perspective, taking regenerative valve implants as a showcase. Methods: A... Show moreAim: This paper investigates the conditions for inclusive design of regenerative medicine interventions from a bioethical perspective, taking regenerative valve implants as a showcase. Methods: A value hierarchy is construed to translate the value of justice into norms and design requirements for inclusive design of regenerative valve implants. Results: Three norms are proposed and translated into design requirements: regenerative valve implants should be designed to promote equal opportunity to good health for all potential users; equal respect for all potential users should be shown; and the implants should be designed to be accessible to everyone in need. Conclusion: The norms and design requirements help to design regenerative valve implants that are appropriate, respectful and available for everyone in need. Show less
One of the most important determinants of the European Union’s role in international affairs is the community’ own definition of the border between states eligible for membership and states that... Show moreOne of the most important determinants of the European Union’s role in international affairs is the community’ own definition of the border between states eligible for membership and states that are not eligible. Contrary to what one hears in official pronouncements, this definition has been repeatedly contested and changed significantly since the founding of the community. Prior research (Thomas 2017) has established that contestation from domestic and supranational forces within the community has changed the normative definition of the limits of Europe three times since the 1950s. This paper introduces a new database of all fifty EU decisions on membership eligibility of aspirant states from 1957 through 2017, some positive, some negative, and some reversing an earlier decision. It then uses three analytical techniques – cross-tabulation, regression, and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) -- to evaluate the relative contribution of these changing membership norms, as compared to other legal, political and economic factors, to the EU decision-making in these fifty cases. All three methods indicate that membership norms exert a powerful effect on EU decisions that cannot be attributed to other factors. Show less
Cyberspace is an integral part of modern societies and has transformed global social and economic relations in the 21st century. From an arcane and technical domain on the margins of international... Show moreCyberspace is an integral part of modern societies and has transformed global social and economic relations in the 21st century. From an arcane and technical domain on the margins of international policy debates, cyberspace has entered the realm of high politics and is an important feature of contemporary debates on global governance. The contributions presented in this special section seek to foster a better understanding of how to govern cyberspace – a domain that is complex, ubiquitous and an increasingly indispensable part of life in the 21st century. Despite the fact that cyberspace is primarily owned and operated by the private sector, the authors agree that states continue to exert a powerful influence over how cyberspace is used and governed. The contributions reveal that although cyberspace is a relatively new area of global governance, existing legal and political frameworks and traditional means and methods of conducting interstate relations remain relevant. A comprehensive, international treaty to govern cyberspace is unlikely to emerge in the near future. Therefore, a wide-ranging set of tailored efforts is required to ensure that cyberspace remains free, open and secure. Confidence and trust must be built between states and other relevant stakeholders through practical cooperation on specific issues, sharing information and best practices and exercising restraint in cyber activities. Bilateral cooperation and like-minded coalitions are essential for developing and disseminating norms or principles of responsible behaviour in cyberspace, which may set the stage for legally binding commitments in the future. Ultimately, the international architecture for governing cyberspace is likely to resemble the medium itself – an intricate web of actors, institutions and instruments securing a resource that is far greater than the sum of its parts. Show less
This paper addresses the constitutional entrenchment of foreign policy preferences, or “world views”, from the vantage point of International Relations theory. Empirically, norms that sketch out... Show moreThis paper addresses the constitutional entrenchment of foreign policy preferences, or “world views”, from the vantage point of International Relations theory. Empirically, norms that sketch out certain visions of global governance have become a popular feature of constitutional design. The paper expounds both their potential, as well as pitfalls to avoid, with a particular focus on Constructivist scholarship. In terms of their merits, they can serve as evidence of a “normative basis” for foreign policy and as parameters for legitimacy. Furthermore, they represent both evidence of, and fuel for, processes of socialization in foreign policy. However, Constructivists tempted to draw on such constitutional worldviews should heed three main caveats. Firstly, while the constitution is supreme in the legal realm, it is only one of many possible expressions of normative preferences from a political science perspective. Secondly, they should avoid confusion between domestic constitutional standards and universal ones. Thirdly, they should be aware of the problematic of the “dead hand of the past”, i.e., while constitutional entrenchment may lend norms particular gravitas, it also makes them prone to become out-dated. By staying clear of these pitfalls, Constructivist theorists can embrace contemporary constitutions in their quest to elucidate which principles and ideas shape the international order and its maturing legal framework. Show less
