External Challenges Research Articles

The role of cinema in Young Turk propaganda during the second constitutional era (1908–1913)

ABSTRACT This article examines the use of cinema by the Young Turk Movement, which played a significant role in transforming the Ottoman Empire from an absolutist regime into a constitutional monarchy in 1908. Upon gaining power, the Young Turks faced various external and internal political challenges, such as imperialist ambitions over Ottoman territory, Balkan states' efforts to reclaim lost lands, and separatist movements within the empire. This article explores how they used cinema to promote their political agenda and address these challenges. It argues that cinema was employed not only to display power and spread propaganda but also to project an image of governance aligned with constitutional ideals.

Relationship Between IPO and Company Development Based on the Case of Poten Enviro

Abstract: The stock market crash in early 2024 in China has sparked criticism from investors regarding the current Chinese IPO system. There has been extensive debate on whether IPOs should serve as a venue for financing for companies facing internal and external development difficulties and questionable profitability, and whether the interests of shareholders should receive better protection. To delve deeper into the issues surrounding the Chinese IPO system, a listed companyPoten Envirohas been selected, and a comprehensive review has been conducted on its development history, internal and external challenges, IPO process, financial irregularities, and other related behaviors. The company should proper analyze the external environmental changes, and the IPO should not be pursued blindly. Also, the regulation institution should strengthen supervision of listed companies to avoid losses for the public. This study will be beneficial in providing insights for the reform of the Chinese stock market and offering guidance for strategic decision-making by enterprises.

‘I am afraid to fly there’: informal care in Polish migrants’ families immobilised by COVID-19

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the COVID-19 pandemic as a new external challenge to transnational family life that can undermine the care arrangements and intentions developed by the families of Polish migrants following the 2004 EU enlargement. The pandemic, associated lockdowns and travel restrictions raise questions about assumed transnationalism, building upon earlier concerns about taking for granted migrants’ cross-national mobility. Based on focus group discussions with Polish grandparents conducted in July 2020 and March 2021, we analyse the pandemic’s impact on intergenerational relations with both geographically close and distant kin. We point to perceptions of risks of COVID-19 associated with ethnicised stereotypes and evolving with time. While the pandemic caused temporary restrictions to mobility, it shows the immobilising side of “unsettling events”], the consequences of which, for privileged EU migrants, will unfold in time as their parents’ age and require personal care.

Rules of consultation. Parliamentary procedure in the Netherlands since 1795

ABSTRACT The Dutch Parliament claims to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest parliament still in function today, with roots tracing back to the ‘States-General’ of 17 provinces in the Low Countries that assembled for the first time in 1464. Historiography also tends to stress the remarkable continuity and stability of the Dutch Parliament, with rules, practices and traditions handed over from one generation to another – seemingly irrespective of regime changes. Continuity indeed is a significant aspect of Dutch parliamentary culture. This article will show that this is a result of an ongoing historical process of adaptation and re-negotiation, and by no means has it been self-evident. Confronted with internal and external challenges of the established (working) order, the Dutch Parliament throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries sought to reconciliate ‘the old’ with ‘new’ ideas on how to put parliamentarism, representation, and deliberative democracy into daily practice. In fact, this has been at the heart of every discussion on parliamentary procedure.

Understanding the challenges of learning disabilities and psychosocial disorders

Students with learning disabilities often experience a complex range of internal and external challenges that can significantly impact their overall well-being and development. Internally, these students may grapple with intense feelings of anxiety, depression, and physical complaints, which can lead to social withdrawal and diminished self-esteem. They may also face higher rates of bullying and social rejection, further exacerbating their psychosocial difficulties and negatively affecting their sense of belonging and acceptance. These learners are more likely to exhibit attention problems, poor concentration, and a wide range of emotional difficulties, which can further hinder their ability to engage effectively in academic and social settings. Behaviorally, students with learning disabilities may exhibit issues like attention deficits and socialisation challenges, stemming from underlying processing difficulties and challenges in understanding social cues and norms. They may also experience feelings of anger, frustration, and even aggressive behaviours, often as a result of their negative experiences and struggles with academic demands. Emerging research suggests that executive function deficits can contribute to these students' complex relationship between temperament and psychological difficulties. Problems with executive functions, such as attention, planning, memory, and flexibility, can significantly impact their cognitive and social-emotional development. Early interventions, such as video games, mobile apps, or STEM-oriented approaches, are crucial for addressing these multifaceted challenges and supporting the holistic growth and well-being of students with learning disabilities

Technological sovereignty as a factor of competitiveness of oil and gas companies of the Russian Federation

Aim. To investigate the importance of technological sovereignty for strengthening the competitive positions of Russian oil and gas companies.Objectives. To identify the key factors that determine the level of technological independence of oil and gas companies; to assess how these factors affect their ability to compete successfully at the national and international levels.Methodology. The research uses general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis using a systematic approach.Results. The essence of technological independence as a factor in the development of competitiveness of companies in the oil and gas sector was analyzed. The assumption is formulated that the achievement of technological sovereignty allows companies to mitigate risks arising from external factors, including international sanctions and restrictions on access to advanced foreign technologies. Several strategic initiatives have been proposed to strengthen the technological sovereignty of the domestic oil and gas industry: training of highly qualified personnel, introduction of tax incentives and subsidies from the state for companies, creation of special economic zones or technology parks, protection of intellectual property and support for patent activity.Conclusions. Technological independence is the most effective method in the context of the struggle of Russian industrial companies against external challenges: sanctions and changes in global energy markets. The development of national technologies in the oil and gas sector due to the synergetic effect has a positive impact on strengthening the competitive advantages of Russian national companies in both domestic and international markets. In order to ensure technological sovereignty, special attention should be paid to the development of strategic risk management mechanisms, as well as effective communication models between the state, industry, and science.

Financial Performance Evaluation of Fast-Food Restaurant

This study examines McDonald's financial performance from 2019 to 2023, focusing on key financial metrics such as profitability, operational efficiency, liquidity, solvency, and cash flow. The objective is to assess McDonald's financial health and identify factors contributing to its sustained market leadership in the fast-food industry. Using descriptive statistics and regression analysis, the study evaluates McDonald's financial ratios, including operating profit margin, return on assets, inventory turnover, and current ratio, among others. The results reveal strong profitability and effective cost control, with a consistent operating profit margin and robust asset management. McDonald's liquidity is sufficient to meet short-term obligations, and its prudent debt management reflects financial stability. The company’s investment in digital transformation and operational improvements, such as streamlined inventory management and enhanced customer engagement, have further contributed to its financial resilience. In conclusion, McDonald's has demonstrated adaptability and resilience amidst external challenges, ensuring continued financial success. The study suggests that McDonald's should continue investing in digital platforms and menu innovation to meet evolving customer preferences. The implications of these findings are significant for the fast-food industry, highlighting the importance of strategic financial management in maintaining market leadership and long-term growth

A comparison Study on User Acceptance of Digital Healthcare Services Among M40 and B40 Community in Selangor: A Study on SELangkah Application

Over time, the global digital healthcare industry has started to take shape with the aim of offering benefits to all residents. Much effort has been put into improving the effectiveness and accessibility of the healthcare system in Malaysia for the benefit of its people. The Selangor state government is working to make all communities safer and healthier places, and one of its initiatives is the SELangkah application. Nonetheless, there are still concern over the take up of digital healthcare services among citizens especially those in the low-income and middle-income communities; B40 and M40. Previous study has shown that different economic status has an impact towards the acceptance level in technology services. Therefore, this study utilises qualitative research method to investigate the state of user acceptance in digital healthcare services among B40 and M40 users in Selangor through the case study of SELangkah application. Focus group discussion was conducted with over 10 participants from Selangor to evaluate and compare the acceptance level of digital healthcare services between both income group with the instrument development were guided by the Extended Technology Acceptance Model (ETAM). The area of group discussion covers users’ perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude, behaviour, external challenges, and actual use. The findings show that both M40 and B40 group find the application to be beneficial; in addition, they believe there should be more awareness campaign to promote the application to the public. A few clear differences between the acceptance level of the two groups would be the simplicity of the language used in the application, the recommended features, and future needs between the two groups. M40 group find no difficulties to navigate the application but B40 group mention that the used words can be simplify. While M40 group recommended for gamification and high engagement features; the B40 group is looking more at practicality such as more information or linkages to nearby clinic. Nevertheless, both groups did not find major difficulties and they see a lot of benefit of the application. This will form the fundamental basis for future research efforts aimed at closing the technology acceptance gap and enabling a wider population to use technology as a tool to have a healthier life.

THE INDICATOR APPROACH TO ASSESSING THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF ENTERPRISES

In the conditions of market instability, competitive pressure, financial crises and other external and internal challenges, an important component of the stability and development of the enterprise is economic security, which is the subject of research in the article. It was found that the assessment of economic security helps to adapt to the existing conditions and gives the ability to quickly eliminate various threats, which ensures the stable operation of the enterprise. The study of literature sources revealed that there are many methods for assessing the economic security of enterprises, but one of the most effective is the indicator approach. This approach is based on the analysis and interpretation of a number of key indicators that allow determining the state of various areas of the enterprise. The indicator approach is a systematic approach to assessing economic security by analyzing a set of indicators that reflect the state of the enterprise in key areas of its activity. Indicators are quantitative indicators that characterize the state of individual spheres of the enterprise's functioning and allow to evaluate them as a whole. The indicator approach is universal and can be adapted to the specifics of various industries and enterprises. This makes it an effective tool for a wide range of enterprises, regardless of their size, structure or field of activity. The assessment of economic security through indicators allows enterprise managers to make more accurate and well-founded management decisions, which contributes to strengthening their resistance to external and internal challenges. The application of the indicator approach not only increases the sustainability of the enterprise in the short term, but also contributes to the development of long-term strategies that take into account both current and future risks. The indicator approach allows for a comprehensive and systematic assessment of the state of economic security and covers key aspects of the enterprise's activity - financial, production, personnel, legal and other areas. This provides a deep understanding of the current state of the enterprise and its vulnerabilities. Depending on the significance of the threats and the subjective preferences of the authors and the specifics of the industry, the choice and method of grouping indicators for assessing the level of economic security of the enterprise differ significantly.

Secure in Diversity? Transborder Ethnicity, Transnational Minority Activism, and Ontological (In)Security in the European Union

Abstract The liberal vision of the early 1990s envisaged the eastward extension of the Western European security community formed during the Cold War, based on intergovernmental cooperation and integration around the shared norms embodied by the European Union (EU), Council of Europe, and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Yet, transborder ethnic ties have remained a security concern within the “New Europe.” As well as the external challenges posed by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, growing transborder nationalism exhibited by Hungary and other states has also become a focus of tensions within the EU. These intra-EU concerns, I argue, should be understood primarily as an issue of ontological security and as part of a multilevel security dilemma implicating states, EU institutions, and national minorities as security-seeking non-state actors. The article focuses on the Federal Union of European Nationalities—a transnational umbrella NGO that in 2013–2021 led an unsuccessful European Citizens’ Initiative named “Minority SafePack” (MSPI) calling upon the European Commission to legislate on firmer guarantees of minority rights within EU member states. Applying the ontological security lens to the study of MSPI, I illustrate how it reflects specific claims voiced by transborder kin-minority activists consistently over the past century, before analyzing the counter-securitizing arguments deployed against it by states. Although MSPI was approved with a large majority within the European Parliament, the Commission ultimately rejected it. I consider why this was the case, as well as the implications of the rejection for the in varietate concordia concept that supposedly undergirds the European project.

Rehabilitating Republican China: Historical Memory, National Identity and Regime Legitimacy in the Post-Mao Era

Abstract Described in the Chinese Communist Party's orthodox historiography as a dark and repressive period and part of the “century of humiliation,” the Republican era has in recent decades undergone a significant reassessment in the People's Republic of China (PRC). In books, newspaper articles, documentaries and dramas, Republican China has sometimes been portrayed as a vibrant society making remarkable progress in modernization in the face of severe external challenges. This article explores the origins of this surprising rehabilitation and examines in detail how the Republican-era economic legacies have been reassessed in the reform era. It finds that while the post-Mao regime continues to use the negative view of China's pre-communist history to maintain its historical legitimacy, it has also been promoting a positive view of aspects of the same period in order to support its post-1978 priorities of modernization and nationalism, a trend that has persisted under Xi Jinping despite his tightened ideological control. The selective revival of Republican legacies, although conducive to the Party's current political objectives, has given rise to revisionist narratives that damage the hegemony of its orthodox historical discourses, on which its legitimacy still relies.

Стабильность современной политической системы Вьетнама: эволюция, вызовы и перспективы

This article examines the stability of the modern Vietnamese political system through a comprehensive review and analysis of its historical evolution, governance structure, economic reforms, and the intricate interplay of socio-political factors. Since the implementation of Doi Moi economic reforms in 1986, Vietnam has experienced significant transformations, that have led to rapid economic growth and increasing political stability. This study delves into the pivotal role played by the Communist Party of Vietnam in maintaining a one-party system while simultaneously introducing market-oriented reforms. It evaluates the impacts of such reforms on the political landscape, discussing how economic success has contributed to the legitimacy of the state and sustained public confidence. Furthermore, the research identifies internal and external challenges faced by Vietnam, including corruption, human rights concerns, and the pressures of globalization, while examining the state's response through institutional reforms and policy adjustments. The findings of the study suggest that Vietnam's political stability is influenced by a complex set of factors, including economic achievements, institutional reforms, and the central role of the Communist Party.

МНОГОУРОВНЕВАЯ СИСТЕМА ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ

Economic security is an integral part of the overall security of the state. It is like the foundation on which the prosperity and stability of the country are built. Economic independence, sustainable development and the well-being of society directly depend on how well our economy is protected from internal and external threats. The efficiency of enterprises and organizations is also closely related to the level of economic security. The article highlights the close relationship between food and economic security of the state. The ability of the agro-industrial complex to provide the population with high-quality and affordable food directly affects the stability of the economy, social cohesion and political independence of the country. The authors note that the balance between domestic production and food imports plays a key role in ensuring food security and allows the state to effectively respond to external challenges.

Don't Throw Away Your Notebook: Effects of Task Difficulty and Presentation Medium on Memory Performance.

People are increasingly reliant on various electrical devices for learning and memory, yet the implications and consequences of this dependence remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate how learning through electrical media impacts recall under varying task difficulties. During this study, participants encoded information related to daily life situations (low difficulty), academic conceptual knowledge (middle difficulty), or associative word pairs (high difficulty), presented on smartphones, computers, or paper. At test, they recalled the omitted content based on the provided cue information. A significant screen-inferiority effect was observed for both computers and smartphones. However, the impairment related to computers disappeared in the retrieval of daily life situations and academic conceptual knowledge, whereas the impairment associated with smartphones was consistently present across all tasks. These results suggest that memory performance is modulated by the interaction between the presentation medium and the specific demands of the task, highlighting a more pronounced screen-inferiority memory effect when the media restrict the depth of processing or when the memory tasks pose greater external challenges. A deeper understanding of these factors can guide the optimization of electrical devices to enhance human memory abilities and functions.

Discovering technology opportunities of latecomers based on RGNN and patent data: The example of Huawei in self-driving vehicle industry

Emerging technologies provide competitive opportunities for latecomers to catch up with leading giants. As most of the extant literature indicated, types of single-dimensional relations from patent data have been revealed in technology opportunity discovery (TOD) research. Still, few have been aware of the more complex characteristics extracted from higher-dimensional patent information such as the patentee-technology relation. To derive this valuable relation for more robust results, this article introduces a novel TOD method, utilizing a recursive graph neural network (RGNN) to transform this high-dimensional information into measures of heterogeneity as internal capability, and combining it with external challenges evaluated by the competitiveness index, to identify technological opportunities. Taking the self-driving vehicle (SDV) industry with 33,347 patent families from 2010 to 2021 as the initial dataset, it shows significant performance promotions compared to previous analogous TOD models. Meanwhile, tested by recent filing patent data, the predicted opportunities are consistent with Huawei and other enterprises. Upon illuminating the intense technological competition situation among the preeminent SDV firms worldwide as a case exploration, this research contributes theoretical and practical views to the TOD research and network analysis.

The (in)effectiveness of financial consumer protection: Quasi-experimental evidence from consumer finance in China

The booming consumer finance sector has grappled with internal and external challenges, which call forth strong regulatory responses to financial consumer protection (FCP). Existing studies, however, have explored the economic consequences of FCP from a macro or meso perspective and failed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the FCP framework. To remedy this, we collected a novel dataset from an online complaint platform in China, which included over 12,000 real-world complaints from March 2019 to September 2022. Built on the dataset, we employ a regression discontinuity in time approach to examine the effect of a representative FCP policy (i.e., Implementation Measures of the People's Bank of China for Protecting Financial Consumers' Rights and Interests) on the average rating of the consumers' perception of dispute resolution. We confirm the effectiveness of the FCP policy in improving dispute resolution, and the results remain robust for a series of tests. Moreover, the effectiveness of the FCP policy varies in different aspects of perceptions and complaint topics. The heterogeneous analysis demonstrates that first-mover and foreign-shareholding consumer finance companies are more responsive to the Measure. Finally, regulatory punishment and media attention are two channels in which FCP policy benefits consumers' perception of dispute resolution. We further discuss some important policy and managerial implications.

Beyond Borders A New Analysis of External Challenges of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

A new Global Order is emerging, along with new (re)alignments taking place in interstate relations between Pakistan and China towards the eastern camp. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is US$62 billion, and it will combat persistent instability, leverage Pakistan's strategic location, build economic development zones, support social infrastructure, and address Pakistan's energy deficit. CPEC will give China another entry point into the Indian Ocean through the Gwadar Port in Balochistan and Pakistan, which will provide a massive opportunity to improve its dire economic situation. However, to make the CPEC a successful reality, the state of Pakistan must confront and overcome a number of difficulties. Pakistan is clearly moving away from geostrategic concerns and towards geo-economics cooperation, emphasizing solid relationships with key regional players. Conversely, the CPEC has faced considerable international scrutiny and criticism since its launch in 2013. However, both countries face external challenges, both regional and global. This article aims to analyze the external challenges that Pakistan has been facing since the beginning of the CPEC and its economic lifeline. Pakistan is trying to balance relations with its neighboring countries and balance the power, which can resolve the external challenges of CPEC.

Representations of the ethno-political situation in the North Caucasus in the regional media space

The article presents the results of a content analysis of regional media, that was conducted within the framework of a pilot study of the methodology developed by the authors for analysing the problems and prospects for the formation of an all-Russian identity in the North Caucasus. The purpose of the study was to determine the structure and content of representations of the ethno-political situation in the North Caucasus in the media space of the region. The relevance of ethno-political issues in the North Caucasus is due to the fact that this is a frontier region, which, due to its geographical location, ethnic, religious and cultural characteristics, is an arena of various internal and external challenges. Monitoring the ethno-political situation is an important area of ​​research, both in theoretical and practical terms. One of the technologies of such monitoring is the analysis of representations of the ethno-political situation in the political discourse of the region. The political discourse of regional media is a thematically focused, socially conditioned system of news, analytical, and prognostic materials in regional media that builds a political picture of the world. Representations are the content of information messages on media resources of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus. The documentary base of the study consisted of 1,656 information messages posted on leading information portals and in non-ethnic media outlets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Federal District in April–June 2023. Five semantic categories of analysis were defined: 1) the practices used to strengthen the all-Russian identity; 2) politicisation of ethnicity; 3) the influence of foreign diasporas of the North Caucasian peoples; 4) threats and risks in the sphere of humanitarian security; 5) threats and risks in the sphere of socio-political security. The analysis of representations of the ethno-political situation in the political media discourse of the region allowed us to determine what kind of worldview is created and constructed by regional media: 1) prevails positive content about new practices of forming an all-Russian civic identity in the region, new traditions and rituals associated with the heroes of the North Caucasus Military District prevails; 2) potential risks of destabilisation of the socio-political situation in the North Caucasus are associated with the impact of the information war on the population, primarily young people; the growing threats of increased extremist and terrorist activity; problems of religious security in the region, which are presented in the media space in a very fragmentary manner.

University Strategic Planning: A Sharing from the Vice-Chancellor

University strategic planning is essential for assuring the success of an educational institution. It is crucial to comprehend the entirety of the strategic planning process and its challenges. This study explores the vice-chancellor’s role in the strategic planning process to ensure the university accomplishes its mandate in establishing the institution. A case study was conducted at the University of Technology Sarawak as a qualitative approach. Interviews with the vice-chancellor and documentary analysis are used to gather the data. The findings demonstrated the impacts of strategic foresight, leadership excellence, task performance, staff engagement, stakeholder management and strategic revisiting in the strategic planning process to enable the institution to face internal and external challenges. Accordingly, the implication of this study relates to the critical roles of the vice-chancellor’s leadership. It offers a comprehensive view of the strategic planning process and broader ways to address its challenges.

Совершенствование подхода к управлению мерами государственной поддержки предприятий в ходе реализации промышленной политики

Issues of the effectiveness of the implementation of industrial policy and measures of state support for industrial enterprises have reached the level of state strategic decisions in connection with the emergence of new external and internal challenges facing Russia today. The main problem that urgently needs to be solved is the development of mechanisms for implementing state policy in terms of the application of state support measures in the context of ongoing sanctions and political pressure. The authors of the article presented an evolutionary cross-section of the content of industrial policy, provided criteria for classifying its instruments and forms of implementation through a description of government support measures. Consideration of industrial policy from the historical and functional side at the macro- and meso- levels (specific territory and specific industry) contributed to the systematization of government support measures for industrial enterprises. The relevance of the research interest is related to the fact that with a significant number of publications in Russia and abroad concerning the issues of improving industrial policy and measures of state impact on industrial facilities, the problem of appropriate effective methodological and practical support for the management of state support measures remains unsolved. The article presents a systematization of state support measures for industrial enterprises, a critical analysis of the methodology for selecting enterprises receiving state support, an assessment of the results of the implementation of the applied system of support measures, as well as the reasons for the gap between the stated goals of industrial policy and its actual results. In this scientific article, the authors propose to improve the approach to assessing enterprises that are recipients of government support in order to ensure that their choices comply with the goals of industrial policy.