Last Sunday I came across an article in the Observer by Martin Parker ( If only business schools wouldn’t teach business , Nov 30th), outlining how Business Schools should rethink their position as well as their curriculum in this period of downturn. I found it appropriate and welcome.
The shareholder value philosophy of pedalling management techniques to literally thousands of students, and by so doing limiting their horizons to units of three months, is seriously flawed. The alternative is stakeholder value thinking and practice, which requires delving deep into concerns of corporate responsibility, the future role and contribution of boards, and the nature of the business/government interface. Such considerations have been given minimal attention.
So far, I am with Martin Parker. Think broader, dig deeper and see beyond quarterly profit targets. Yet, Martin Parker argues on behalf of Business Schools promoting a new capitalism. Why? [...]

Turbulent times in my mother-country.  Recent discussions with Russian and Americans as well as Georgians confirm the suspicion the Georgia’s turbulent relationship with Russia has little to do with democracy but a great deal to do with ensuring that former USSR territories are kept in Western hands, so that natural resources, particularly oil, flow freely to the West without paying any duty to the Russians.
Looked at closely it’s evident that the current Georgian President, Saakashvili has behaved like an autocrat not a democrat.  He has closed down newspapers, bullied  the media, locked up many dissidents who are  supporters of democracy and has now even imprisoned the son of Gamsakhurdia, the very first president of Georgia after the break  up of the Soviet Union.  In point of fact, his attack on South Ossetia is just one of a series of similar attacks.
The Russians had little [...]