Mechanisms for ensuring national stability under modern challenges: organizational, information technology and socioeconomic dimensions

The measurement of national well-being has become central to both academic and policy debates, particularly within the framework of sustainable development. In this context, this study investigates the relationship between macroeconomic conditions and subjective well-being in Portugal. Using annual data from 2004 to 2022, we explore the effects of GDP per capita, unemployment, and inflation on the Global Well-Being Index (GWBI). Employing ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, the results indicate a significant positive relationship between GDP per capita and subjective well-being, while inflation is negatively associated. Contrary to expectations, the unemployment rate showed a positive and significant association with the GWBI. This counterintuitive result may reflect institutional buffering effects, such as social safety nets, strong family structures, or lagged responses in perceptions of well-being. Similar patterns were observed in other southern European countries with strong informal social support systems. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how economic indicators relate to perceived well-being, particularly in the context of a southern European country. The study offers relevant insights for public policy, including the alignment of macroeconomic management with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Land use conversion in the context of tourism development particularly nature-based tourism constitutes a strategic issue encompassing legal, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions. This study aims to analyze the extent to which Indonesia’s legal and regulatory frameworks have accommodated the governance of land-use conversion within the framework of sustainable tourism development. The research employs a normative juridical approach by examining statutory regulations relating to spatial planning and land-use conversion. This study is particularly relevant given the increasing strategic importance of environmental policies, including those in Kuningan Regency. One such regulation is Law Number 26 of 2007 concerning Spatial Planning. The findings indicate that, normatively, there is a degree of legal synchronization across various regulations that ensures conformity in spatial utilization with the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW) and the Detailed Spatial Plan (RDTR), while also incorporating sustainability and environmental protection considerations. Nonetheless, practical challenges persist, including overlapping authorities, weak enforcement mechanisms, and limited public participation. Therefore, there is a pressing need to strengthen both legal structures and the legal culture of society to realize legal certainty and effective protection in land-use conversion for equitable and sustainable tourism development.

Climate resilience is gaining momentum due to the evolving dynamics of global socio‐ecological patterns and concerns among policymakers at all levels. In line with SDG‐13, which addresses climate change, this study examines this aspect and proposes a CIA (Cohesion, Institution, and Adaptation) capacity framework for climate change and resilience from both global and regional perspectives. The study employed a two‐step system GMM on panel data from 163 countries between 2007 and 2022. The statistics indicated that ethnic integration and civil society participation are the two essential pillars of the climate resilience framework with regard to cohesion. It further stated that participation remains a highly significant attribute in both interaction and regional impact models. The study explored the notion that regulatory quality is a more substantial factor in effective and sustainable climate resilience mechanisms, which should be enforced rationally. Taking into account the interaction and regional impact of cohesive and institutional factors, it is articulated that a combination of ethnic integration with appropriate and justified governance interaction has a positive and significant impact on a sustainable and effective climate resilience framework. The study concluded that countries should apply the interaction models of cohesion and governance. It also suggested that relative and actionable public participation, as well as ethnic integration, without any discriminatory regulations or restrictions, would be more sustainable within the climate resilience framework. Moreover, it is beneficial for states to achieve other goals of Agenda 2030, such as sustainable societies and the principle of “Leave no one behind.”

This study aims to analyze the dialectic between the spiritual obligation of Pitra Yadnya and the challenges of modernity, which are manifested in the Ngaben policy in crematoriums and its impact on the socio-cultural structure of Balinese Hindu society. The phenomenon of Ngaben in crematoriums, often termed as Ngaben Efisien or Ngaben Aluh, emerged as a real response to modern realities: limited land, soaring costs, and demands for efficiency in time and energy, which collectively threaten the tradition of mutual cooperation and the authority of the Traditional Village which is tied to the implementation of magnificent rituals. This study adopts a qualitative method with a critical policy analysis approach and is based on Giddens' structuration theory, which is relevant to observing how individual actions (choosing a crematorium) shape new social structures. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews with key informants selected purposively and snowballing, including crematorium managers, Jero Mangku (religious leaders), Prajuru Desa Adat (traditional village officials), and families who choose mass Ngaben or crematorium. Furthermore, participant observation and document study of the Awig-Awig and the Lontar Yama Purwana Tattwa were used to explore the theological legitimacy of the new practice. The research findings indicate that although the crematorium has been theologically legitimized by the reinterpretation of the lontar, this practice generates social tensions that erode communal cohesion, but also empowers migrants, thus demanding customary policies that balance the ritual and socio-economic dimensions.

This article reviews recent literature on post pandemic recovery policy in Nigeria with respect to sustainable health. To date, this area has received less analysis despite being relevant to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG:3 (Good Health and Wellbeing). Building on institutional capacity and sustainable development framework, the study examined the patterns of policy response to post COVID-19recovery in Nigeria to understand its effectiveness in relation to sustainable health. Through a structured survey instrument, data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 350 Nigerians from the age of twenty years and above drawn from a cross-section of purposively selected participants from the country’s six geopolitical zones. The aim is to determine their knowledge of effective state policy response for a sustainable post COVID-19 recovery. Findings suggest that while the majority of the respondents were familiar with the pandemic, they, however, were not aware of any substantial post pandemic recovery policy of the Nigerian government and its effectiveness. To fill this gap the study made alternative policy recommendations including but not limited to inclusiveness and economic diversification.

Political and ethno-religious tensions in Nigeria pose significant challenges to national security and stability, rooted in colonial-era policies that institutionalized ethnic and religious divisions. These historical grievances compounded by contemporary socio-political dynamics, manifest in electoral violence, insurgencies like Boko Haram, farmer-herder clashes, and secessionist movements such as IPOB. The study investigates these tensions by exploring their historical roots, contemporary manifestations, and impact on national security, employing Marxist, and Functionalist theories to provide a robust theoretical framework. Using a qualitative research design, data were gathered from archival records, governmental and non-governmental reports, and case studies, including the Kano Riots of 1953, the Maitatsine Riots of 1980, and the Boko Haram insurgency and the likes. Findings reveal that these tensions are exacerbated by governance failures, socio-economic inequalities, and the manipulation of identity politics, with severe implications for national security, such as displacement, economic disruption, and weakened state legitimacy. While interventions like the Niger Delta Amnesty Program and anti-open grazing laws have yielded partial success, their limited scope underscores the need for comprehensive reforms. The study concludes that addressing these tensions requires historical reconciliation, inclusive governance, equitable resource distribution, and sustainable conflict-resolution mechanisms. Thus the study recommends establishing a national reconciliation commission, decentralizing governance, promoting interfaith dialogue, and enhancing security frameworks through community policing and stakeholder engagement. These measures aim to address the root causes of tensions and foster long-term stability and peace. By integrating historical, political, and socio-economic dimensions, the study provides a roadmap for mitigating political and ethno-religious tensions in Nigeria.

The initial part of this paper provides an overview on conceptual framework of sustainability and sustainable development in balancing the needs for development and environmental conservation. The concept is based on structural and functional diversity relationship of natural ecosystem functioning and environmental filters that determine its services sustainably. Subsequently, the paper deals with a brief historical perspective of eco-development initiated by the United Nations and other relevant agencies that lead to the promulgation of the “17-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” in 2016. On the existential risks and potential future risks of humanity with special reference to the current and future potential impact of global climate change as consequence of energy transition from fossil fuel to renewable are also discussed. The paper ends with the way forward with an enlightenment optimism rather than romantic declinism in achieving the goal of Paris climate agreement.

Despite of the highest level of the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the Central Asian region, Kazakhstan, with its long history of centralized planning, constantly experiences economic insecurities. This trend is mainly explained by the over-reliance on the natural resources and failures in economic diversification. Therefore, this paper considers the knowledge-based economy (KBE) as the framework for the long-term sustainable development of Kazakhstan and explores problems and perspectives of it from the 1996 to 2014. Methodology of the study includes quantitative research by using four steps analyses, such as principal component analysis (PCA), descriptive analysis, multiple linear regression (MLR), and paired t-test. The study shows that 83% of the GDP growth variations in the model can be explained by the final KBE indicators such as Control of corruption; Enrollment in general secondary schools; Computer, communications, and other services; and Research and Development (R&D) expenditure. Although Kazakhstan had poor support of KBE indicators and still practices extractive national institutions, the recent Third Economic Modernization is expected to boost the KBE in the country. The main recommendation of the paper is to profoundly diversify the country’s economy towards enhancing the four pillars of the KBE, such as promoting favorable general enabling environment, improvement of education sector and skills of workforce, and enhancement of information infrastructure and innovation sectors.

Global environmental challenges, including the depletion of natural resources, pollution, and population growth, have significantly impacted modern lifestyles. The environmental and socioeconomic dimensions of this reality are represented by climate change, one of the major threats facing the planet. People’s environmental values and the green behaviors they exhibit based on these values are crucial in mitigating significant environmental problems, such as climate change. In this context, raising environmental awareness and motivating individuals to contribute to sustainable development and the circular economy particularly environmental protection can serve as an effective starting point. In line with this idea, data were collected from 236 participants in Istanbul in 2024 using the convenience sampling method. The data collected through the survey technique in the study were analyzed using the SPSS program and PROCESS, a macro developed for SPSS. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis were performed with the Python programming language, and fit index was also presented. The research findings reveal a significant relationship between environmental values and green purchasing behavior. The mediating role of climate change mitigation behavior was also found.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and psychological stress remain major occupational health challenges among teaching professionals in adult education, yet their interconnected causes are often underexplored. This narrative review aims to identify multifactorial risk factors that contribute to these conditions and to propose a comprehensive framework that enhances understanding of teaching professionals’ well-being. A systematic synthesis of recent epidemiological and occupational health studies was conducted to analyse both immediate and underlying determinants across human, workplace, organisational, and socioeconomic dimensions. The findings reveal that more than two-thirds of teaching professionals experience WMSDs, particularly in the neck and lower back, while psychological stress affects over seventy percent globally. The combined effects of poor ergonomics, prolonged static postures, excessive workload, and limited organisational support contribute significantly to both physical and psychological strain. Broader contextual influences such as job insecurity, insufficient institutional resources, and societal undervaluation further intensify these risks. The review identifies a reciprocal relationship between physical discomfort and psychological distress, where each condition amplifies the other through behavioural and physiological mechanisms. The proposed integrative framework establishes a foundation for targeted interventions and evidence-based policy, promoting a shift toward holistic, system-oriented approaches to occupational health for teaching professionals in professional education settings.

This narrative review examines the organizational, technological, and human factors shaping IT-enabled change management (ITCM), with a particular focus on healthcare systems. The objective is to synthesize current evidence and highlight strategies that facilitate successful digital transformation across diverse contexts. A structured search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, covering studies published between 2013 and 2023. Literature was selected based on relevance to ITCM, organizational readiness, stakeholder engagement, and implementation outcomes. A thematic analysis was applied to identify critical success factors and systemic challenges. Key findings indicate that adaptive organizational culture, strong leadership, and early stakeholder involvement are essential enablers of ITCM. Technological factors such as interoperability and system complexity remain major barriers, often compounded by user resistance. Human resource readiness—particularly digital literacy and training—emerges as a cornerstone of successful adoption. Comparative insights reveal that high-income countries benefit from robust infrastructure and governance, while low- and middle-income countries face persistent barriers related to limited resources and uneven capacity. The review concludes that ITCM requires integrated and context-sensitive strategies that combine technological innovation with organizational adaptability and human capital development. Practical implications include leadership training, cross-functional engagement, and targeted capacity building. Future research should employ longitudinal and system-dynamics approaches to assess sustainability and unintended consequences. This review contributes an integrative framework for understanding ITCM across organizational, technological, and socio-economic dimensions, offering insights for both policy and practice.

We describe the administration of antenatal corticosteroid therapy (ACT) for liveborn very preterm neonates in a population-based study. A total of 790 very preterm neonates (between 24 and 31 full weeks of gestation) were included in this regionally defined population of very preterm neonates in France. The main outcome measure was non-access to ACT. Data were analysed using logistic and polytomous models to control for neonatal and sociodemographic characteristics, mechanisms of very preterm birth and neonatal network organisation. As compared with level III, births in levels I-II maternity units were closely related to non-access to ACT (60.1% vs. 8.8%), but not to pregnancy follow-up (19.7% vs. 17.8%). Only 6.3% of very preterm neonates that benefited from antepartum referral did nor receive ACT. Births associated with rupture of membranes and gestational hypertension were significantly more often transferred to level-III units (73.8% and 68.3% respectively) than those due to maternal bleeding and spontaneous labour (57.0% and 50.7% respectively), and the neonates had a lower probability of not receiving ACT (8.5%, 11.5%, 23.0%, 31.2% respectively). Very preterm neonates referred in utero to a level-III unit came from a more favourable socio-economic environment. Non-access to ACT was more often observed in neonates born to 14- to 24-year-old mothers, smokers, of low socio-economic status, and preterm birth resulting from maternal bleeding or spontaneous labour. These data from a French regional study show that access to ACT is not only explained by practitioners' support of recommendations. In our population-based study, ACT access was related to socio-economic factors and to the mechanisms of very preterm birth. Improving the rate of access to ACT should take these organisational, medical and socio-economic dimensions into account.

The 2009 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen was marked by an unprecedented level of contentious action by civil society activists. Conference organizers consequently increased restrictions on all civil society participation. This frustrated activists who favored working within the UN process to influence global climate policy. Jennifer Hadden’s Networks in Contention examines the internal politics of the transnational climate change network, both before and during the Copenhagen conference, to understand why Copenhagen was so contentious, why some organizations adopted contention and others did not, and how changes in the network and members’ tactics influenced climate politics. The book contributes to the ample literature on transnational activist networks by opening the proverbial “black box” of the transnational climate change network and revealing its internal struggles, divisions, and decisionmaking processes. Hadden’s central argument is that the structure of transnational networks (i.e., the relations among network members) influences the way the networks perform, and therefore their ability to influence policy. When it comes to explaining organizational decisions, she argues that “network ties can be more important than [organizational] attributes” (p. 87). Such ties can even mediate the incentives produced by political opportunity structures. This observation does not mean that political opportunity structures and organizational attributes are irrelevant. Hadden credits changing political opportunities with the dramatic increase in the number and diversity of civil society groups working on climate change at the 2009 Copenhagen conference. Particularly important was the addition of organizations from the global justice movement, which had a long history with contentious action. Hadden’s main focus, however, is on how these changes affected the structure of the transnational climate change network and the implications for civil society organizations’ ability to influence global climate policy. One might expect the additional resources and expertise brought by new civil society participants to translate into increased influence. Hadden skillfully uses social network analysis to explain why the increase in network size nevertheless decreased the climate change network’s overall connectivity, and thus members’ ability to impact climate change policy. The cliques that formed rarely

Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations in principle endorse lifelong learning (LLL) as a useful framework for sustainable development. However, in spite of the rhetoric, only a few member states such as South Africa, Botswana and Namibia have officially endorsed LLL in their educational policies. The sub-region is plagued by social atrocities such as HIV/AIDS, capacity poverty, low quality education, global marginalization, ineffective pedagogical and civil society agencies. The paper argues that since 1994, SADC has transited from being preoccupied with fighting Apartheid to focus on regional development, it experienced structural adjustment policies and is currently playing a critical role in pursuit of African renaissance. The region faces challenges such as centralization of educational planning, lack of a concerted culture of democratic participation, failure to recognize cultural diversity, and poor civil society engagement. The paper contends that LLL would help SADC countries to decentralize educational decision-making, engage communities in democratic discourses, train facilitators to reflective practitioners and engage the civil society in facilitating the attainment of regional sustainable development agenda.

The article examines the "Program for the development of local government in the Dnipropetrovsk region for 2012 –2021" prerequisites for development, phases of the life cycle and components’ content. Periodization was carried out with the definition of three Program stages, key events, achievements and challenges of the regional Program implementation. It is established that during the first two operational stages (2008–2011) significant results were obtained, which ensured further "breakthrough" movement of region local self-government in the decentralization processes. It is shown that Dnipropetrovsk region is a leader in decentralization processes: as of the beginning of 2020, 71 amalgamated territorial communities have been formed. The volumes of funding of the "Local self-government development projects and programs regional award" are analysed and it is determined that it is necessary to continue the practice of annual Regional award. It is emphasized that the process of decentralization has caused new challenges to be met by local governments in the implementation of fundamentally new tasks during the implementation of the next stage of the Program in 2016–2021. In particular, it is determined that in 2020–2021 the following additional challenges are relevant: territorial communities voluntary amalgamation processes’ completion & joining affluent communities’ intensification; the critical need to strengthen programs for mono-industry settlements’ economy diversification; regional vital activity’s organization in the conditions of the COVID 19 pandemic. Taking into account the results of modern scientific research, seven adjusted priority goals of the Program current stage are proposed. An updated system of the Regional Local Government Development Program’s key principles and values is presented, which formalizes key principles (openness; active internal dialogue; continuity of experience; design of local development processes at strategic and operational levels; systematic support for local development projects; local communities’ project-targeted financing; reasonable distribution of the budgetary resources and values involved) and values (proactive; productive; promising) that will ensure the success of the local self-government development programming at the regional level in today's challenges.