Papers by Jonathan Coulter
Res Publica, May 11, 2022
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) developed a 'Working Definition of Antise... more The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) developed a 'Working Definition of Antisemitism' in 2016. Whilst the definition has received a significant amount of media attention, we are not aware of any comprehensive philosophical analysis. This article analyses this definition. We conclude that the definition and its list of examples ought to be rejected. The urgency to do so stems from the fact that pro-Israel activists can and have mobilised the IHRA document for political goals unrelated to tackling antisemitism, notably to stigmatise and silence critics of the Israeli government. This causes widespread self-censorship, has an adverse impact on freedom of speech, and impedes action against the unjust treatment of Palestinians. We also identify intrinsic problems in the way the definition refers to criticism of Israel similar 'to that leveled against any other country', ambiguous wording about 'the power of Jews as a collective', lack of clarity as to the Jewish people's 'right to self-determination', and its denial of obvious racism. We consider alternative definitions and prefer one like the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) definition, 'hostility to or prejudice against Jews', with the addition of the words 'as Jews'. We recognise that the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) can play a useful purpose in illustrating the shortcomings of the IHRA definition. However, we do not advocate promoting it as the prime international definition. Indeed, we question the efficacy of using complex new definitions to combat racism against Jews or other groups, and instead advocate combatting it through collective action across societies.
In May 1987, a three-man team from the United Kingdom visited Bangladesh to carry out a review of... more In May 1987, a three-man team from the United Kingdom visited Bangladesh to carry out a review of the post-harvest fisheries sector and to identify projects for British aid. lt was decided that the first part of this assignment, the review of the postharvest sector, should be written up as an ODNRI publication and made available to all governmental and non-governmental institutions interested in fisheries development in Bangladesh, and to the public at large. This has resulted in the present report on the handling, processing and marketing of fish, and which is divided into the following sections: Section 2: An analysis of the overall supply and demand for fish and shellfish in Bangladesh and for export. Section 3: A discussion of the way fish is handled and marketed for domestic consumption, quantitative and qualitative losses, and marketing efficiency. The role of the Government and co-operatives in fish marketing is also discussed. Section 4: A discussion of the way shrimp is han...
Res Publica
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) developed a ‘Working Definition of Antise... more The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) developed a ‘Working Definition of Antisemitism’ in 2016. Whilst the definition has received a significant amount of media attention, we are not aware of any comprehensive philosophical analysis. This article analyses this definition. We conclude that the definition and its list of examples ought to be rejected. The urgency to do so stems from the fact that pro-Israel activists can and have mobilised the IHRA document for political goals unrelated to tackling antisemitism, notably to stigmatise and silence critics of the Israeli government. This causes widespread self-censorship, has an adverse impact on freedom of speech, and impedes action against the unjust treatment of Palestinians. We also identify intrinsic problems in the way the definition refers to criticism of Israel similar ‘to that leveled against any other country’, ambiguous wording about ‘the power of Jews as a collective’, lack of clarity as to the Jewish people...
STUDY ON APPROPRIATE WAREHOUSING AND COLLATERAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA VOLUME I -KEY FINDINGS, 2014
This is the first of a three volume publication and contains the key findings. The publisher's ab... more This is the first of a three volume publication and contains the key findings. The publisher's abstract for the overall publication is as follows: "Farmers throughout the developing world face considerable challenges in accessing finance, and this can often influence their decision-making. These challenges must be addressed with financing solutions tailored to the different actors of the agricultural value chain. Warehouse receipt financing enables the post-harvest part of the value chain to function more efficiently and is a potentially useful tool for helping farmers access to funding. This is the core subject of this report".
ResPublica, 2022
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) developed a 'Working Definition of Antise... more The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) developed a 'Working Definition of Antisemitism' in 2016. Whilst the definition has received a significant amount of media attention, we are not aware of any comprehensive philosophical analysis. This article analyses this definition. We conclude that the definition and its list of examples ought to be rejected. The urgency to do so stems from the fact that pro-Israel activists can and have mobilised the IHRA document for political goals unrelated to tackling antisemitism, notably to stigmatise and silence critics of the Israeli government. This causes widespread self-censorship, has an adverse impact on freedom of speech, and impedes action against the unjust treatment of Palestinians. We also identify intrinsic problems in the way the definition refers to criticism of Israel similar 'to that leveled against any other country', ambiguous wording about 'the power of Jews as a collective', lack of clarity as to the Jewish people's 'right to self-determination', and its denial of obvious racism. We consider alternative definitions and prefer one like the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) definition, 'hostility to or prejudice against Jews', with the addition of the words 'as Jews'. We recognise that the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) can play a useful purpose in illustrating the shortcomings of the IHRA definition. However, we do not advocate promoting it as the prime international definition. Indeed, we question the efficacy of using complex new definitions to combat racism against Jews or other groups, and instead advocate combatting it through collective action across societies.
The cashew tree is grown in coastal areas of tropical countries. It has in the past been consider... more The cashew tree is grown in coastal areas of tropical countries. It has in the past been considered that the crop is only viable when grown in soils unsuitable for other more profitable permanent crops like coconut, rubber and sugar cane. However research in India suggests that high yielding selections and hybrids may prove viable on better soils.
I * Figures have been estimated using different assumptions on how quickly importers will reduce ... more I * Figures have been estimated using different assumptions on how quickly importers will reduce the frequency ofre-fumigations in the UK. Table S 1 summarises the estimated incremental costs that UK commodity importing industries will bear in the first year after the restrictions of scenario A take effect. Costs in subsequent years are assumed to be substantially lower because industries will react by putting much greater effort into improving practices at origin. Ultimately, annual compliance costs will be close to zero. The figures in Table S 1 include incremental costs of working capital, storage, insurance, transport, handling, and fumigation. They do not include costs of improving practices at origin. These will be highly dependent on the extent ofUK industry cooperation , and the pressure that commodity industries from other developed countries would exert at origin. Costs would ultimately be offset by the reduction or elimination of re-fumigation in the UK. Control Scenarios B and C: The costs of complying with controls suggested under these scenarios will be minimal compared with costs under scenario A. Critical use exemptions: Under the proposed EC criteria, NRI sees no clear cases for critical use exemptions for imported commodities.
This bulletin was produced by the Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute which was form... more This bulletin was produced by the Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute which was formed in September 1987 by the amalgamation of the Land Resources Development Centre and the Tropical Development and Research Institute. ODNRI is the scientific unit of the British Government's Overseas Development Administration and is funded from the overseas aid programme. The Institute provides technical assistance to developing countries and specialises in the utilization of land resources, pest and vector management and post-harvest technology. Short extracts of material from this bulletin may be reproduced in any nonadvertising, non-profit-making context provided that the source is acknowledged as follows: Coulter, J.P. (1988). The United States market for seafood: a guide for developing countries. Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute Bulletin No.12, 115 +viipp.
This report describes a dialogue with the Zimbabwean horticultural industry, and particularly wit... more This report describes a dialogue with the Zimbabwean horticultural industry, and particularly with the exporter Hortico, which together with Selbys, is one of two horticultural exporters sourcing substantial quantities from smallholders. The aim was to identify and test new approaches that would reduce the risks inherent in such schemes, thereby accelerating their development.
This is the final report on a DFID-funded three and a half year project in support of the Nationa... more This is the final report on a DFID-funded three and a half year project in support of the National Centre for Food Science and Technology (CITA), which belongs to the University of Costa Rica. The aim of the project has been to increase the competitively of agro-industry in Central America and the Caribbean, and it cost £270,000. The information presented in this report indicates significant steps have been made in achieving that goal. The area of quality management has proved a particular area of strength, with CITA focusing its support sequentially upon the needs of particular sub-sectors. The authors make various suggestions about how CITA might build on this and other achievements in the future.
In this report, we discuss the findings of the first of four country studies on the provision of ... more In this report, we discuss the findings of the first of four country studies on the provision of agricultural services by co-operatives, groups and other kinds of farmer-controlled enterprises. Group approaches are often encouraged by NGOs and some donors, and there is much to be gained by identifying factors which lead to their success. The objective of this research is to test certain hypotheses about: (a) the types of activity for which FCEs are most suitable; (b) the characteristics which are most often associated with success, and; (c) how FCEs should be promoted.
This consultancy was commissioned by the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB), with funds from the Mini... more This consultancy was commissioned by the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB), with funds from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development (MAWRD), and carried out in September and October 1997. The objectives were to make recommendations on the appropriate types, ownership, management and capacities of on and off-farm grain storage of mahangu, maize and sorghum in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA), and to assess the need for holding strategic grain reserves. Terms of reference are as shown in Appendix 1, as well as amendments agreed with the Steering Committee at a meeting on September 16. The consultancy was carried out by an agricultural marketing economist and a grain storage specialist, who visited Kavango, Caprivi and the North-Central Regions in the days 5 - 17 October, collecting information from institutional and trade sources and through a series of farm visits - see Appendix 2 for list of persons met. Limited time was available for the visit to Caprivi, and at the ...
Food Policy, 2002
Most African countries have, since the 1980s, liberalised agriculture without experiencing food c... more Most African countries have, since the 1980s, liberalised agriculture without experiencing food crisis, as feared by sceptics, but the outcome of reforms has been rather disappointing and agricultural markets remain underdeveloped and inefficient. One means to improve agricultural marketing, which is the focus of this paper, is to develop regulated warehouse receipt (WR) systems. The system will curtail cheating on weights and measures; ease access to finance at all levels in the marketing chain; moderate seasonal price variability and promote instruments to mitigate price risks. It will also reduce the need for the Government to intervene in agricultural markets, and reduce the cost of such interventions if needed. The major problem in establishing WR systems in Africa is disabling elements in the policy environment. Drawing on experience from projects implemented in Africa during the last decade 1 , the authors outline how this challenge can be addressed, the most crucial being to build strong stakeholder support behind the initiative.
Reprinted 1997 The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do ... more Reprinted 1997 The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, ...
African Review of Money Finance and Banking Supplement to Savings and Development, 2000
Fao Agricultural Services Bulletin, 2000
Journal of Palestinian Refugee Studies, 2013
The CGIAR Systemwide Program on Collective Action and Property Rights (CAPRi) is an initiative of... more The CGIAR Systemwide Program on Collective Action and Property Rights (CAPRi) is an initiative of the 15 centers that belong to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. The initiative promotes comparative research on the role played by property rights and collective action institutions in shaping the efficiency, sustainability, and equity of natural resource systems. CAPRi's Secretariat is hosted by the International Food Policy Research Institute's (IFPRI) Environment and Production Technology Division (www.ifpri.org). CAPRi Working Papers contain preliminary material and research results and are circulated prior to a full peer review in order to stimulate discussion and critical comment. It is expected that most Working Papers will eventually be published in some other form, and that their content may also be revised.
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Papers by Jonathan Coulter
"Farmers throughout the developing world face considerable challenges in accessing finance, and this can often influence their decision-making. These challenges must be addressed with financing solutions tailored to the different actors of the agricultural value chain. Warehouse receipt financing enables the post-harvest part of the value chain to function more efficiently and is a potentially useful tool for helping farmers access to funding. This is the core subject of this report".