ECOPOLITICS AND ECOLOGICAL TRENDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

South Africa remains at the leading edge of scientific publishing on the African continent, yet few analyses of publication patterns exist outside the biomedical field. Considering the large number of protected areas and mammalian guilds within the country, I examined trends in South African ecological research as it pertains to the behaviour of mammals. I assessed the topics and taxonomic focus of mammalogists at South African institutes over the span of 15 years (2001–2015), and contrasted local research with the shifting focus of international behavioural research. This review of more than 1000 publications indicates that South African based researchers exhibit a strong tendency towards field-based research, as opposed to laboratory-centred experiments. In terms of topical focus, local ecologists place significant weight on the behavioural categories of mating, social and foraging behaviour – reflecting a global priority for these topics. This finding contrasts with an increased emphasis on animal cognition and communication research in the international research arena, including field-based studies on these themes. I make suggestions on how behavioural ecologists in South Africa can align themselves with global trends while also continuing to distinguish those facets that make South African behavioural ecology unique. Significance: This review is the first of behavioural ecology in South Africa. Suggestions are made for where South African researchers can profitably shift research focus. International trends in behavioural ecology are highlighted.

Формування соціально-інституційного конструкту цифрової дипломатії

Our understanding of aquatic ecology and ecosystem functioning continuously improves. The special issues of Hydrobiologia on "Emerging Trends in Aquatic Ecology" each represent a collection of papers to testify to the variety of approaches and topics that concur in reaching the common aim to scientifically underpin political and societal decisions to mitigate our impacts on our planet and its biodiversity. The series started exactly 100 volumes ago, with volume 750 in 2015 (Martens, 2015) . We here proudly present the fourth edition of the series, with papers from colleagues within and outside of the editorial board of the journal. The current trend of continuous biodiversity loss resulted in several international and national regulations and funding schemes to target biodiversity protection and halt its loss. Such a trend is clearly reflected in the papers published in this special issue, which now, more than in the previous editions of the ETAE (Naselli-Flores et al., 2017; Thomaz et al., 2020) , present studies that improve our basic understanding of the patterns and processes in biodiversity, that introduce and review state-of-the-art tools and approaches to study biodiversity, that use biodiversity to monitor and assess ecological quality of waters, and that study the effects of anthropogenic activities and climate change on aquatic biodiversity. Three papers deal with the distribution of species. They addressed the influence of abiotic processes like floodings on species occurrence and interactions in plants in the Amazons (da Silva et al., 2023) , the role of dried aquatic macrophytes in dispersal of Neotropical ostracods (Rosa et al., 2023), and potential biases affecting our understanding of biodiversity and biogeography of microscopic aquatic organisms (Marrone et al., 2023 ). Ferreira et al. (2023) provide advice on the use of different literature databases when searching for literature surveys on topics in aquatic ecology, given

The potential possibilities of using the higher education, training of foreign students for providing foreign policy interests are considered. It has been revealed that for the last 20-30 years the leading countries have been actively using own colleges and universities as agents of public diplomacy, receiving not only the financial benefits of teaching foreigners, but also political effects.The export of the higher education, attracting foreign students in modern conditions is becoming an effective tool of “soft power” in those countries that can benefit from the effects of internationalization of the educational space. Learning of foreigners allows the exporting countries of education to gently improve their image in the international arena, promote their own interests in bilateral relations, promote their own political and cultural values, and eventually gently form networks of interpersonal contacts and influencers that can be used in the future for influence. to the political agenda of other countries.On the example of the USA, USSR, France, Australia, China, Japan, the role of universities in improving the country’s international image and bilateral relations of spreading geopolitical influence is analyzed.In this context, the current state, problems and prospects of using foreigners’ education in domestic universities to promote Ukraine’s political and economic interests in the international arena are analyzed. For this authorities should intensify their diplomatic work, develop and approve an appropriate state strategy that would coordinate the actions of different ministries, especially the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and institutional policies of universities.

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of political decisions on international support for Ukraine in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The study analyzes various aspects of Ukraine's policy that contributed to attracting assistance from the international community. Particular attention was paid to the formation of strategic goals, including European integration and NATO membership, which have become the main benchmarks for international partners. The study showed that Ukraine's clear and consistent policy on security and defense issues had a positive impact on the growth of trust on the part of Western countries. Political decisions aimed at reforming the defense sector have demonstrated Ukraine's readiness to respond to external threats, which, in turn, has become the basis for strengthening military cooperation with NATO member states. It is shown that thanks to active diplomacy and the implementation of transparent mechanisms for the use of international assistance, Ukraine managed to attract billions of dollars to support its efforts on the battlefield. Attention is drawn to the importance of domestic political stability for securing international support. During the war, Ukraine managed to implement anti-corruption initiatives and improve institutional capacity, which increased the level of trust in state institutions. Another important aspect is cooperation with international organizations, which helps to coordinate efforts in the field of humanitarian aid and infrastructure restoration. Ukraine's active participation in international forums and initiatives has allowed it to communicate to the world not only its needs but also its achievements in restoring the country. The article presents the rationale that Ukraine's political decisions play a crucial role in shaping international support, creating a basis for a long-term partnership with Western countries. Having a clear strategy aimed at integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures is a key factor for continued support for Ukraine in the international arena. It is also highlighted how changes in international politics, including sanctions against Russia, strengthen Ukraine's position on the global level, giving it the opportunity to strengthen its independence and sovereignty. Thus, Ukraine's effective political decisions not only ensure the support of its international partners, but also strengthen its position in the face of geopolitical tensions. Keywords: political decisions, international support, Russian-Ukrainian war, diplomatic activity, foreign policy, regional security.

For 30 years of Independence, a positive image of Kazakhstan has already formed in the world. For a third of a century, the country has been systematically and steadily moving towards global goals. Today our country is recognized by the world community, Kazakhstan is among the 50 most developed countries in the world, systematically following the Strategy 2050, the Plan of the Nation “100 concrete steps: a modern state for all”, implementing a number of other programs and projects. The development of any state is impossible outside the global world space. Since the day of gaining independence, our country has consistently strengthened its status and authority in the international arena. In the process of improving the positive experience of state building and strengthening the country’s competitiveness, the modern image of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been formed. It arose and developed on historical, geopolitical, cultural, ethnic, religious, demographic and other grounds. A positive image is important for the well-being and prosperity of our state, and for further strengthening our positions in the world arena. The article examines the role of the subjective factor - the factor of the political leader - in the context of the formation of the international image of Kazakhstan. The role and contribution of the First President - Elbasy N.A. Nazarbayev is evaluated and analyzed in the process of positioning the country in the international arena.

It is shown that in the conditions of the modern world order, characterized by the interdependence of all international political players, the national foreign policy course becomes one of the key factors determining the country's position in the international arena. It is understood that the foreign policy of the state proceeds from the self-perception of a place in the hierarchy of the system of international relations and the strengthening or elevation of state influence. The connection between understanding the position of an actor in the global political system and the realization of national interests and the preservation of a secure foreign policy environment, that is, ensuring national security, is revealed. The idea of a national super-task is considered as the basis for the formation and implementation of foreign policy strategies of modern state actors. It is revealed that any state, having a subject in world politics, is interested in promoting its power rhetoric and, as a result, in the optimal implementation of national interests. It is proved that the powers, whether great, regional or small, choose a certain model of foreign policy behavior and the mission of their foreign policy position, which is expressed in a national super-task. The features of the national super-task in the foreign policy of the United States of America, the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation as the most prominent representatives of states of different ethical and value systems that determine the state's position in the international arena are considered.

The purpose of this article is to substantiate the determinants of contemporary changes in military security policy, which is reflexive management. Military security is considered as a function of political attitudes and strategic decisions, and its governmental potential is a changing mechanism designed to meet regional and global demands and tendencies of society development. The author substantiates the assumption that today, the system of ensuring military security requires radical governmental transformation, and the key mechanism of this transformation is reflexive governance. The theoretical research method is a conceptual transformation of the governmental aspect of the military security policy through the prism of the theory of reflexive governance. The concept of reflexive governance has not yet been properly developed in Russian academic investigations, but its relevance is determined by a substantial change in the existing prospects for the analysis, development, and implementation of the military security policy in times of peace: (1) shifting the attention of civil cervants to the mechanisms of transformation of military security institutions to global challenges; (2) activation of discussions about “open” and “closed” spaces in politics; (3) development of the potential of governance based on continuous education and network management; and (4) development of a network governance system. Within the framework of reflexive governance, cognitive and normative beliefs form the political-administrative hierarchy and economic incentives as mechanisms for coordinating military security. At the same time, the mechanism of ensuring military security consists of such components as (1) subjects and (2) objects of military security; (1) normative and regulatory, (2) theoretical and research, and (3) activity components of military security. Reflexive governance, while becoming the basis of the military security in a modern state, implies that in the arms race countries should not forget about deeper, fundamental goals of state management. Any action both within the framework of direct provision of military security and within the framework of diplomatic regulation of relations in the international arena should be devoted to collective and individual-administrative reflexing of decision makers. A key role in military security policy should be played not by the theory of warfare, but by the development of tools to help resolve emerging conflicts peacefully.

Постановка проблеми. Цивільна авіація України відіграє суттєву роль в житті суспільства та на міжнародній арені. Вона виконує багатопланові функції – пасажиро- та вантажоперевезення, проведення авіаційних робіт в аграрному і лісному господарствах, надання медичної допомоги, здійснення пошуково-рятувальних операцій, пожежогасіння, будівельних робіт, культурно-спортивних заходів, наукових досліджень тощо. Наразі актуальним є об’єктивне висвітлення діяльності авіаційної галузі особливо у зв’язку з тим, що тут залишається чимало проблем, які створюють негативне враження про українську авіацію, уявлення про її занепад в сучасних умовах. Мета. Проаналізувати діяльність цивільної авіації України з початку ХХІ ст. до сьогодення і, застосовуючи проблемно-хронологічний метод, комплексно дослідити процеси трансформацій в авіаційній галузі за основними її функціональними напрямами та визначити їх характерні особливості. Акцентувати на інтеграції української авіаціі до європейського і світового авіаційного простору, тенденціях авіаперевезень, інноваціях в розвитку аеропортів і авіакомпаній, проблемах літакобудування різних типів повітряних суден та безпілотної авіації, підготовці авіафахівців в сучасних умовах. Результати: Нове ХХІ століття стало і новим етапом в розвитку цивільної авіації України, для якої, завдяки проведеним трансформаціям, характерним стала позитивна динаміка її зростання. В основному відбувався послідовний процес інтеграції вітчизняної авіації до міжнародних авіаційних організацій, активніше впроваджувалися стандарти та рекомендована практика ІКАО, зростали авіаперевезення. Застосовувалися інновації у літакобудуванні та галузевій інфраструктурі, посилювалася увага до проблем авіаційної безпеки і безпеки польотів, науково-технічних розробок, здійснювалися заходи щодо вирішення глобальних проблем, зокрема підвищення рівня екологічності авіаційного транспорту, якості підготовки авіафахівців тощо. Проте, маючи потужний потенціал в усіх сферах авіаційної галузі, він використовується з ряду зовнішніх і внутрішніх причин недостатньо, а вирішення існуючих проблем буде сприяти сталому розвитку як авіатранспортній галузі, економіки України, так і міжнародного співробітництва.

In modern conditions, characterized by an increase in the scale of information flows and a dynamically changing external environment, one of the main factors, contributing to the effective functioning and development of business, is the possibility of obtaining highly qualified advisory assistance. The conditions of a competitive market form the external and internal circumstances, that cause certain difficulties in the functioning of even strong and developed organizations. Many business processes are affected by fluctuations in prices for raw materials and exchange rates, changes in government policy in relation to any sphere of the economy, decisions that are taken on the international arena. A certain imbalance in the activities of the organization can make a tense relationship between the management structures and subordinates, an arrival of new partners, contractors, buyers and customers. In the event that these problems can not be solved by the organization itself, one of the ways out of this situation can be to apply to a professional consulting firm. At the same time, organizations can resort to the services of consultants in cases when not only problems arise, but also when costs should be optimized, growth rates should be accelerated, and the activity of the administrative apparatus should be regulated. Consulting firms offer both ready-made solutions for the implementation of financial and economic activities, as well as those that are developed individually with the client organization. The essence, types and directions of using consulting services are considered in the article. At present, consulting firms offer a wide range of consulting services, which organizations can take advantage of in the process of their financial and economic activities of any non-standard situations and problems. Attraction of consultants gives significant advantages, as it allows, not holding in staff on a permanent basis highly qualified specialist, to solve arising in the course of work non-standard tasks. This is one of the indicators of the level of implementation in the production and maintenance of advanced technologies. Consulting is the basic trend in the development of organizations and increasing their competitiveness in modern conditions.

The article deals with the development of a strategy for a Ukrainian enterprise to enter the international business market under modern conditions, which would allow the enterprise to strengthen its position on the foreign market. The model of strategic management of the enterprise is described, thanks to which the management's decision to enter the international market requires the development of a concept and strategy for the development of its foreign economic activity. Development of nationally oriented marketing into international requires adaptation of the entire marketing complex, starting with the analysis of external ones factors affecting the company, ending with behavioral characteristics the latter in after-sales service, as well as its investment activity, with taking into account the interests of consumers of foreign markets. Decisions made by companies in this area have a strategic and tactical aspect. The conditions of activity in international markets for the exit of Ukrainian enterprises and organizations to foreign markets are considered, which will provide new opportunities for doing business in modern conditions. Therefore, to ensure effective foreign economic activity the company needs to clearly define its development strategy, which will provide long-term benefits in the future competitive advantages. The entry of a business into the international arena allows attracting new customers and reducing risk losses, increase the competitiveness of the enterprise and increase its capitalization. A foreign economic strategy is necessary for the enterprise as a means of achieving uniqueness, recognition and image reflection as a whole. The article defines factors that determine the necessity and possibility of enterprises entering the foreign market: market factors potential and market environment, technological, economic, competitive factors.

Modern marketing is rapidly developing in modern conditions. This process and its impact on the economic component and digital transformation requires effective consideration of all details. In the field of marketing, the terms "design" and "brand" are characterized by high dynamics and have their own characteristics in creating a brand. The main purpose of the study is to consider the role and prospects of using design as an important component in creating a brand in accordance with the requirements of identity and approaches to responding to changes in the external environment. Accordingly, the purpose of the article is a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between design and brand in the development of the modern marketing environment and the integration of advertising in the Ukrainian economic market. The methodology includes both specialized and general scientific methods that allow you to reveal all the details in the study of brand marketing. Scientific novelty includes the analysis of modern influence strategies and the importance of design and brand in the reformation of the economic sector and the marketing sector in general. It has been established that brand development is the key to successful strategies, the development of new programs and projects. A brand designates a particular product or service in a special way. The visions of the concepts of "brand" and "design", their interaction, signs, advantages and disadvantages, relationship with the external environment have been presented. The functioning of the international marketing environment, the general state of branding, development trends, the dynamics of adaptation on the international arena are presented. The main conclusions are reflected in the process of proposition of further prospects for the development of design as a key component in the creation of a brand and its rapid development as the main marketing innovation in modern conditions.

The authors explored the phenomenon of «soft power» as a political strategy through the prism of modern political theory and practice of international relations. The article considers the emergence and formation of the problem of «soft power» in the history of political thought, its current state, identifies the main approaches, resources, goals and results of the use of «soft power» by states in the foreign policy arena. The results of the study of this phenomenon are the theoretical basis for making political decisions. The basis for this study was the theory of the influence of soft power in the global and geopolitical space, its positive and negative sides were highlighted.For modern states, the need to ensure security and stable development is still an urgent task. States in the international arena are in a state of fierce competition for influence and resources. At the same time, the role of the so-called «soft» ways of interaction between states in the global political space has recently increased significantly, new views and theories devoted to this issue are emerging. The authors come to the conclusion that the phenomenon of «soft power» has acquired the greatest significance for political practice due to the correspondence of this concept to modern ideas about how to regulate international relations and maintain world order. The analysis performed by the authors makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of «soft power» as an influential political strategy.

The paper starts from the premise that because nation-states are the most important actors in the international arena, and also because world order both feeds on and feeds national political situations, a close look into the internal life (including the structures of power and governance) of the states is indispensable for an understanding of the existing world order as for evolving a strategy for changing it into one more just and peaceful. It is concerned about the growing global trend toward authoritarian regimes - mostly in the countries of the South but also in those of the North. It classifies authoritarian governance into various types, traces the roots and causes of each, uncovers the links of each with external powers, and spells out their impact on world order. It then identifies the actors whose help can be recruited in the endeavour to restructure the existing world order, and suggests concrete steps that can be taken in that behalf.

Us and Them:The Role of Identity in the International Arena Kathrin Bachleitner (bio) In today's world, "us" and "them" is circumvented by identity. "Identity" is an interdisciplinary concept that describes the "self," or more precisely, the "self" as it is interpreted in the present. In international relations (IR), the "self" can be understood in individual and collective terms, yet it usually means the "state" or a specific community of states. Notably, any such selfhood necessarily requires an "other." Identity always means a specific self, an in-group, and as such, draws boundaries demarcating an out-group. Whether personal or collective, national or transnational, ethnic, race, class, age, gender, or sexuality-based, identities dictate who belongs and who does not belong to a specific group. In other words, there cannot be an "us" without a "them." In IR, the "us" usually refers to a state or group of states, often a regional rather than an international community. The "other" may be defined by geography or territorial boundaries but also by a diverse value system, mindset, or culture. Take the example of Europe—Europe is geographically defined by "others" that exist outside of its territorial boundaries: America, Russia, the Middle East, or Asia. Europe, however, is not a mere geographical entity. It is also a normative community. When it comes to its normative "self," the EU locates itself against "illiberal, authoritarian regimes" or, in some interpretations, against "Islam." "Others" can even stem from "the self" in another historical time. Europe's "temporal other" is its own war-torn past: its periods of totalitarianism, the Holocaust and the Stalinist gulags, and its colonial Empire. These "historical others" are essential in situating the current European "self" and, as such, defining, developing, and shaping Europe's "identity" in the present. "Identity," defined as "the current interpretation of the collective 'self' vis-à-vis 'others,'" therefore offers IR scholars a dynamic concept for their analyses. It helps to describe national interests, state behavior, and the formation of international norms and communities, and it can also explain episodes of conflict and reconciliation or war and peace between states. While identity is situated at the core of IR's constructivist scholarship, realists and liberals cannot afford to overlook it. In fact, a burgeoning body of IR works relies on identity as a concept to show how it shapes interests and state behavior in global politics. The nexus between state identity and state behavior is explored specifically by ontological security scholars. In their view, states strive not only for the physical security of their "body" but also for the "ontological" security of their "mind." In other words, they act in accordance with their established and perceived identities. When explaining the behavior between states and their interrelationships today, IR scholars thus cannot do so without recourse to identity. Yet, while the nexus between identity and state behavior has an intuitive logic to it, its influence is all the harder to prove. Ever since the concept of identity has reached the attention of scholars, attempts have proliferated—albeit often to no avail—to establish causality between this vague and intangible thing that is "state identity" and a specific outcome or state behavior in IR. Moreover, identities and their role in global politics consist of both an active and a passive [End Page 2] component; on the one hand, identities can be actively shaped and manipulated by politicians, but on the other hand, identities passively, often subconsciously, dictate what politicians think, believe, and do in IR. This level of versatility shapes "identity" into the useful, dynamic, and socially constructed concept that it is while also complicating IR scholars' attempts to employ it as a variable in their social scientific research designs (be it when using quantitative or qualitative methods). In IR, "identity" is not singular but plural. Identities are multiple, overlapping, and permanently changing. It follows that they are not static entities with which to explain international relations, but rather they are constitutive to international relations themselves. Take the current example of Germany and its deliberations with its historical identity in the face of the new threats posed to European security by the Ukraine war. IR scholars traditionally used the German...