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Since the late 1980s, an important current labelled "postmodern" has swept through British geography and deeply affected its orientations. Postmodernism can be summed up as two main trends. One, whose critical description is the main object of this article, consists in identifying the main characteristics of our epoch which are credited with attributes distinct from those of modernity. In this perspective, the aim is to diagnose the transition to a cultural logic of dilution and cross-fertilisation of references instead of the modem logic of separation and classification. This first side of postmodernism still makes use of the established methodology of scientific enquiry. However it implies the notion that to a new era should correspond new thinking modes. It is precisely this attempt at « thinking differently » which constitutes the other side of postmodernism as breaking away from the modem scientific concept. Its description will be the object of a second article in the next issue of the journal.

Keywords: géographie britannique, postmodernité, changements sociaux, globalisation, flexibilité, British geography, postmodernity, social change, globalization, flexibility

This article identifies five dominant configurations when considering international relations of social economy in Quebec between 1840 and 2008: a first (1840-1880) that we describe as an interdependent economy where mutual aid societies predominated; a second (1880- 1920) supervised social economy where cooperatives became central; a third (1930-1950) of corporatist-inspired cooperation; a fourth (1960-1990) of cooperation inscribed in economic nationalism; and a fifth (1990-2008) of social and interdependent economy. Each of these dominant configurations maintained coherent international relations, with social actors who supported them and with their ideologies. The last configurations gave rise to an unprecedented openness to the world. From then on, innovative practices spread through international networks of cooperation, not only between northern countries, but also among North and South countries, increasingly under the form of "egalitarian" partnerships. Finally, in becoming institutionalized the social economy's international relations became specialized in at least three directions: international cooperation, international solidarity, and research.

In Canada, the agreements negotiated with Aboriginal groups in order to make hydroelectric developments possible contribute, at various levels, to the renewal of relations between the Government and First Nations. Though provincial governments displayed a homogeneous conduct towards Aboriginal peoples until 1975, today's “hydroelectric agreements” vary greatly from one province to another. These agreements can be said to reflect two types of approach. The first type consists of agreements developed with the sole intention of establishing economic partnerships that consist in sharing the “risks” and “benefits” generated by these projects between Aboriginal communities and hydroelectric industries. The second type of agreement claims to foster a renewal of the social contract between First Nations and Inuit Communities and the Government of Canada. In this article, we analyze the evolution of the “hydroelectric agreements” signed with the Cree communities in both Quebec and Manitoba, for in examining these cases the above emerging tendencies can be clearly demonstrated. We will also ask ourselves if these new approaches, beyond their differences, attest to the renewal of the “contemporary colonial contract” ideal that has, thus far, prevailed over the relationships between Aboriginal communities and the Government of Canada.

AbstractTraditionally, country-risk is defined with regard to the internal sociopolitical and economic conditions of the host country. In today's international context, this narrow vision of country risk needs to be revised. Thus, from the analysis of the main changes in the international environment and based on the international Delphi inquiry, this article brings a clarification on the main elements of country risk in the current context of globalization. It suggests that the sources of risk in foreign markets are within interdependent set of political, sociocultural, economic and financial local factors as well as outside variables of influence, which facilitate the spread between countries. To better understand the risks faced by multinationals in foreign markets, the new approach proposes analysis of country risk using the concept of the global country risk which takes into account the regional and world influences as well as the national variables.

Keywords: risque-pays, mondialisation, interdépendance, entreprises multinationales, country risk, globalization, interdependence, multinational firms, riesgo país, globalización, interdependencia, multinacionales

From an intergroup macroscopic model of the factors related to the vitality of a linguistic minority group, five principles are used to explain how societal forces influence the language experiences of the minority group members. This model also explains how individuals and the collective group can exercise their autonomy to counteract social determinism. The cultural autonomy model is explained and applied to official language minority communities (OLMC) to show their need for institutional autonomy in order to maintain their linguistic vitality in Canada. Recognizing their right to cultural autonomy could be a way to fully legitimate their linguistic rights. OLMCs are described as extensions of the two societal cultures that provide the foundation of Canada's linguistic duality.

Keywords: autonomie culturelle, culture sociétale, vitalité linguistique, droits linguistiques, minorités linguistiques, cultural autonomy, societal culture, linguistic vitality, linguistic rights, linguistic minorities

Some legal orders have enacted laws according to which they recognize themselves the right to exercise universal jurisdiction. That means, to prosecute and punish foreign people who have commited crimes of genocide or against humanity abroad. Pursuing the common interest of international community for the respect of humanity, the exercise of criminal jurisdiction doesn't rely anymore on the traditional criteria of territoriality and nationality. But what are the principles of punishment in this perspective?