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The North/South divide is an image frequently used to depict the territorial structure and the economic dynamism of England, and thus to describe the social and economic geography of the country. This image distinguishes a post-industrial North, which still faces economic and social difficulties, from a tertiary, rich and powerful South. It separates a central space (the South) from a periphery (the North). However, the recent economic changes in Britain question the relevance of this image, which is perhaps too simplistic to describe accurately the economic and social geography and the spatial disparities in the country.

Since the Thatcher years, this debate on the North/South divide has been constantly renewed, regardless of the political colour of the majority at Westminster, and the local and regional policy of the government in power has been systematically criticised. On the one hand, this reflects the persistence of territorial and social disparities in the United Kingdom and more specifically in England. On the other hand, this shows that the North/South divide is not just a geoeconomic question, but it also includes identity, societal and geopolitical issues.

Based on a geographical, critical geopolitical and cartographic approach, the aim of this chapter is to question the relevance and the significance of the North/South divide in 2017, after the impact of the 2008 Great Recession, as the United Kingdom is on its way to Brexit and when its unity is being challenged by Scottish nationalism. How can territorial disparities be described, evaluated and measured in England? How are they perceived by citizens and political leaders? This chapter will also study the policies proposed to close this gap and to meet the aspirations of peripheral regions.

This study aims to propose an approach towards reducing differences between national economies and living standards existing between the world’s wealthiest and least affluent nations.

A systemic review identifies the impeding purpose as proposed above: an entirely new initiative.

The efforts recommended are vital for preserving the human species and ensuring the integrity of our planet. For both the future of the human species and the planet itself, it is essential to reduce the divide between wealthy and poor. Now is the time to give force to the types of implementation necessary to meet these combined goals.

This essay avoids dissecting problems of current geopolitical and ideological character. Despite their sometimes contentious nature, they are often reduced by intelligent diplomacy.

The study proposes a holistic approach to bridging the North-South divide.

All the indications are that the recession, having savaged industry mercilessly over the last couple of years, has turned its baleful attention on the consumer. Since March 1981 real incomes have been falling, and the forecast (by Capel‐Cure Myers) is that this erosion of real incomes will continue this year. Unemployment — the most tragic affliction of society — is, as is well known, around the 3 million mark; the significant point here is that regional variations are not only substantial but that they create a marked discrepancy between employment levels in the north and north‐west as opposed to the south and south‐east. The national unemployment average stands at 11.7% — but it is 14.8% in the north and only 8.7% in the south east. Even an area such as the Midlands, traditionally prosperous, is now having to receive assistance. This gap will continue to widen. The DoE forecasts that only 1% of new jobs will be created in the north‐west to 1986, 2% in the north and 3% in Wales — as against 34% in the south‐east. There is also clear evidence that investment increasingly favours the south and south east at the expense of the north and west; rental growth south of the Humber/Severn line is now several points higher than in the north. How is the retail sector responding to this economic polarisation? At a conference on Merchandising organised by the Retail Management Development Programme in March, it was evident that it is going to be a factor at the forefront of retail management awareness when planning capital investment programmes. As David Malpas of Tesco commented: “it is as interesting to speculate about Asda's enthusiasm for obtaining planning consents in the south, as it is to note that much of Sainsbury's strength has turned on concentrating their business in the south and east.” And the type of premises developed may well begin to show marked differences in line with this economic polarisation. Three years ago Tesco forecast that retailers in the more depressed areas would trade increasingly out of stripped‐down, limited range discount stores. The effects of the polarisation will inevitably spread to the types of merchandise; Tesco have already announced they are extending their test market for generics further south, to Yorkshire and the north‐east following their initial test in Scotland. But while the larger supermarket groups continue to major on fresh foods, there seems — inexplicably — no market yet for downmarket fresh food. Yet, with women being thrown out of work at a faster rate than men, and with real incomes declining, it would seem logical that more time and less money should prompt more careful shopping and cooking. When the question was put to David Malpas at the conference, he confessed himself baffled. “It's a paradox,” he said, “I see women piling up their trolleys with expensive convenience foods when they should buy better ingredients at cheaper cost.” With economic reality becoming harsher, will the price of such capriciousness soon affect spending patterns? Looking at the country as a whole, what will people be spending their money on in the immediate future? John Richards of Capel‐Cure forecast a rosy future for home entertainment, especially video, audio and photography; and for sports equipment and clothing. And DIY still looks good. But he was doubtful about clothing, women's cosmetics and jewellery. And the beer market looks cloudy. In this report on the merchandising conference we concentrate our attention on two papers only — the economic background provided by Tony MacNeary and John Richards of Capel‐Cure Myers, and the implications of this for the retailer by Tesco's David Malpas. These papers, we feel, are deeply significant for everybody in the retail and distribution sector.

Aims to find an appropriate economic model for the reunification question. Perhaps the most important economic issue is what model is to be applied in integrating the two Koreas into a single, viable and eventually highly‐competitive economy. Because of the dissimilarities between the German and Korean economies, and the enormous economic problems created by the swift German reunification, the instant‐reunification German model was rejected. Instead, proposes a more gradual, four‐stage economic integration model for Korea, which was divided in 1945. For a successful economic integration of the two countries, economic reforms should take place in North Korea since the North Korean economy has been afflicted with too many difficult problems, mainly caused by a rigid, centrally‐planned, command economy.

Examines regional variations in house prices and the rate of house price inflation over the last 20 years. Shows the existence of marked cyclical variations and argues that the frequent downturn of house prices in the South East of England was predictable and will lead to a reduction in the North/South house price divide.

Consumer researchers are interested in the degree to which global convergence is occurring along with various consumer behaviour dimensions and to what extent the consumption patterns in different parts of the world are becoming similar. With increasing internationalisation and cultural cross‐fertilisation, the industrialised societies of the world are converging in many ways. Shifts in alcoholic beverage consumption patterns in Europe over the past 50 years may represent a case in point. As traditional cultural boundaries become blurred, consumer preferences for wine appears to be driven less by long‐standing local and regional traditions, and more by growing acceptance of a wider choice. The disparity of wine consumption among the 12 countries studied has also decreased. Other powerful forces are likely to accelerate the pace of convergence in the future.

In this first chapter, I present green criminology as a project based on three pillars and characterised by two traits. I explain how one cultural model and one economic theory have inspired most green criminology undertakings. But mainly, I argue that it is time for the structured appearance of a Southern green criminology, given that recent developments in green criminology show that North–South divides are a key driver of environmental harm.

This paper aims to explore sustainability‐related perceptions of proponents of corporate social responsibility (CSR) from 53 countries in order to shed light on contextual differences regarding the conceptualization of the role of CSR in global governance.

The results of a survey of corporate UN Global Compact participants are presented, focusing on respondents' perceptions regarding 23 key issues in sustainability. Non‐parametric statistics are applied to identify regional and country‐level patterns within the overall sample.

While general perceptions regarding the urgency of key global sustainability challenges appear to be relatively homogeneous around the globe, significant differences can be identified regarding the specific roles and responsibilities respondents attribute to their own companies in countries from the global North and South, respectively.

The paper focuses on generic patterns within the overall sample; more detailed analysis is needed in future work to explore their origins and impact on corporate practice.

There is a need for an improved integration of Southern stakeholders in CSR practice and policy making in order to fully unfold the potential of CSR in global governance.

The paper uncovers generic differences between conceptualizations of the corporate role in global sustainability between the global North and South.

The purpose of this paper is to advance our understanding of international crisis mediation by introducing and examining the nested insider-partial mediator (NIPM) concept, a nuanced perspective on IPM behavior. This study challenges the traditional view of effective mediators as external, unbiased entities by delving into the behavior and contribution of mediators who are deeply embedded in the conflict environment, such as South Korea’s unique position in navigating the US–DPRK crisis in 2017–2018. By analyzing South Korea’s dual role as mediator and negotiator and its employment of both nondirective and directive mediation strategies, the paper demonstrates the potential effectiveness of NIPMs in managing complex biases and contributing to de-escalation in intense crisis scenarios.

This paper uses a focused single-case study approach to analyze South Korea’s role as an NIPM. Using a process-tracing methodology, it examines how contextual factors such as relationships, interests and inherent biases influenced South Korea’s mediation strategies in this complex geopolitical scenario. Empirical evidence was retrieved from public sources, including official statements and press interviews, providing an empirical foundation for understanding NIPM behavior. This approach facilitates a detailed study of South Korea’s unique mediation role within the intricate dynamics of the Korean Peninsula conflict.

The study’s findings illustrate the pivotal role NIPMs can play in complex international conflicts, underlining the significant potential of NIPMs in crisis prevention. The findings highlight South Korea’s adept navigation through intricate geopolitical dynamics, leveraging its unique insider position and established relationships with both the USA and North Korea. This behavior was instrumental in mitigating a potentially explosive situation, steering the crisis toward negotiation and de-escalation. The research underscores the effectiveness of the NIPM framework in understanding the nuanced behavior of mediators who are deeply integrated into multi-level conflicts, influenced by their connections, interests and inherent biases.

This research not only broadens the theoretical framework of insider-partial mediation by introducing the concept of NIPM, but also has practical implications for policymakers and practitioners in leveraging regional mediation strategies for international crisis mitigation. The study underscores the importance of mediators’ deep-rooted connections, biases and vested interests in influencing their mediation tactics, thus offering a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of international mediation in complex geopolitical conflicts.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a measurement scale that captures elements of Mediterranean identity.

A scale was developed from items drawn from existing scales and from a qualitative study that examined how respondents viewed their national identity as well as the concept of a Mediterranean identity. The literature pertaining to Mediterranean identity, culture and the influence of contextual factors on its development were reviewed. The scale revealed four dimensions of Mediterranean identity: traditions, relationships, ethnocentrism and a bond with the Sea.

The scale successfully discriminated between those living by the Sea and those living inland. At the same time, it did not differentiate between respondents living in the north from those living in the south. The study suggests that context, specifically proximity to the Sea, helps shape some of the regional variation in values and beliefs.

The geographic composition of the sample limits the generalizability of the results. A sample across additional countries would provide greater confidence in the results, although much of the theoretical work on Mediterranean thinking has focused on Italy. Further, it was desirable to keep as many factors as possible constant to limit extraneous variation. Inclusion of respondents from countries with different levels of wealth, religious and political ideologies would likely uncover additional facets of Mediterranean identity.

The results have broader implications for identifying transnational segments that may exist around the Mediterranean. A key implication relates to the extent that similar values and beliefs appear to be associated with proximity to the Mediterranean Sea. It also highlights the importance of considering contextual factors when developing an understanding of consumer behavior.

Mediterranean identity has been examined conceptually, but a systematic means to measure is lacking. The essence of Mediterranean thinking embodies the importance individuals place on adhering to traditions, the value they attach to personal relationship, a certain degree of ethnocentricism, and of course the bond with the Sea. The results also suggest that differences that have been attributed to a north/south divide, needs to be reexamined.