Government Experts Research Articles

Comparing regulatory processes in genome editing and autonomous vehicles: How institutional environments shape sociotechnical imaginaries

AbstractThis study compares the regulation of two emerging technologies, the CRISPR genome‐editing system and Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) in the United States. The study draws on 33 in‐depth interviews with innovation and governance experts to study the relationship between their regulatory environments and developing beliefs about these technologies. Using sociotechnical imaginaries as a framework, we explore how social actors envision technologically driven futures and the social order that enables them. These imaginaries are essential to emerging technologies, where experts build a framework of potentialities for innovation still underway. While scholarship has documented how sociotechnical imaginaries arise among policymakers, groups of scientists, state and local stakeholders, and public actors in different countries, less has been said about how regulatory organizations and their actors shape expectations around technologies that are in the early and middle stages of development. This article finds that regulatory institutions shape emerging imaginaries along three related axes: the distribution of authority, technological novelty, and risk. Interviewees negotiate these three contingencies differently based on relevant extant regulatory structures and ideologies, resulting in distinct imaginaries around each technology. CRISPR actors envision genome editing as largely diminishing biomedical harm and eventually suitable for health markets, while CAV actors diverge on whether self‐driving cars alleviate or exacerbate risk and how they may enter roads. That organizational structures and practices of regulation inform broadly held sociotechnical imaginaries bears significance for studies of innovation trajectories, suggesting regulators can take an active role in shaping how risks and benefits of emerging technology are defined.

Evaluating critical institutional factors of Industry 4.0 for education reform

Reimaging education and building human capacity considering Industry 4.0 is critical for educational institutions in view of the pervasive nature of technological disruption induced by the fourth industrial revolution. Education in the Industry 4.0 age is critical due to the reskilling and upskilling needs of current and future workforces triggered by self-propagating technologies of the fourth industrial revolution. Accordingly, national-level education reform is imperative for proactively responding to Industry 4.0 and strategic foresight approaches like the Delphi methodology offer a viable and valuable tool for education policy and planning. Using Delphi, this study identifies, selects, and prioritises critical institutional enablers and barriers of Industry 4.0 for education from the viewpoint of experts within the triple helix, i.e., university, industry, and government experts. The study finds that the top institutional enabler and barrier are dedicated national strategies for Industry 4.0 education and mind-sets that oppose Industry 4.0 education reform, respectively. Insights from the Delphi exercise aid in the proposal of a national roadmap for education reform. The article also discusses the theoretical and managerial implications of the study for framing education changes and planning technological transitions of education systems and concludes by identifying research limitations and potential future research areas.

APA Board Discusses ‘Roadmap for the Future,’ M/UR Nomenclature

APA Board Discusses ‘Roadmap for the Future,’ M/UR Nomenclature

Research on the Weighting Values of Community Aging-Friendly Construction Indexes With Different Expert Groups.

The construction of weight values for the indicators of community aging-friendly construction is helpful to guide the formulation of strategies for allocating elderly resources in community aging-friendly constructions, and to reflect the shortcomings of community aging-friendly constructions and propose improvement strategies when evaluating the effectiveness of the existing community aging-friendly constructions. The paper uses the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to calculate the weighting values of each indicator, consulting the government, industry, and academic experts. The research results show that the weighting-value order is "public environment (W = 0.364)," "health care (W = 0.342)," "humanistic care (W = 0.204)" and "social economy (W = 0.090)." Accordingly, the article proposes specific suggestions to improve the effectiveness of community aging-friendly constructions, including the need to find consensus among all parties involved in the aging industry, the need to focus on improving the public environment of the community, and the need to improve the socio-economic policies as soon as possible.

Экономические перспективы разработки коксующегося угля в арктических регионах России

The Arctic regions of Russia are among the richest in the composition of both rare earth elements and fuel and energy resources, which are of great interest to the country’s economy. Coal has grown significantly in price in recent years and the demand for this raw material is growing annually. Moreover, many countries adhering to the carbon-neutral agenda and abandoning the coal industry have begun to return to this source of raw materials. The purpose of this work is to identify and study the economic prospects for the development of coking coal in the Arctic regions of Russia, as well as to analyze the potential for the implementation of logistics routes through the Northern Sea Route. The possibilities of selling coking coal are actively increasing in the East Asian region, where heavy industry is developing, and this type of coal is relevant and in demand for its properties and qualities. Russia competes for these markets, so strengthening the export base with Arctic deposits that have direct access to the Northern Sea Route is a competitive advantage. The scientific base of the work consists of Russian government sources, statistical databases, expert opinions and assessments, as well as a practical base for the development of potential and existing deposits.

Називаючи речі своїми іменами. Російська пропагандистська риторика як вірогідний доказ геноцидних намірів

The number and scale of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian military in Ukraine since the start of the all-out invasion in February 2022 have prompted many experts and politicians to define this brutality as genocide and seek prosecution of the perpetrators under international law. Ukrainian investigators and prosecutors, in cooperation with foreign colleagues, are carefully documenting relevant facts, while lawyers and diplomats are looking for optimal ways to administer justice within existing or newly created international judicial institutions. At the same time, many express a warning that among the four types of crimes recognized by the UN as the most serious and those that do not have a statute of limitations, the crime of genocide is the most difficult to prove in judicial practice, because the number of war crimes in itself, however brutal and large-scale, does not make them genocide from a legal point of view, if the most important and necessary for such a formal and legal qualification is not proven: genocidal intent on the part of the military and/or political leadership of the aggressor country. Politicians usually do not give such orders in writing, and even make them orally, as a rule, in a veiled form. Therefore, it is necessary to prove genocidal intentions in court on the basis of indirect evidence - an analysis of the entire sum of the statements of high-ranking officials of the aggressor country, who ideologically justify and encourage genocide, using various euphemisms at the same time (calling, for example, for the extermination of the fictional "Nazis" in Ukraine, under which they have meaning all self-conscious Ukrainians), as well as - on the basis of a comparison of veiled genocidal statements with the corresponding systematic actions of the occupying forces and the administration, which clearly translate the ideological instructions of the leadership into the practical plane. The author of the article shows that the genocidal intentions of the Kremlin, despite all their rhetorical veiling, can be proven if the corresponding anti-Ukrainian rhetoric of Russian government officials, experts and propagandists is systematically analyzed, deconstructed and contextualized as a certain integrity, in close connection with the specific actions of the occupying army and administration.

Accountability for the Taking of Human Life with LAWS in War

AbstractAccountability for developing, deploying, and using any emerging weapons system is affirmed as a guiding principle by the Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems. Yet advances in emerging technologies present accountability challenges throughout the life cycle of a weapons system. Mindful of a lack of progress at the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons since 2019, this essay argues for a mechanism capable of imputing accountability when individual agent accountability is exceeded, forensic accountability unreliable, and aspects of political accountability fail.

Between an archipelago and an ice floe: The know-where of Arctic governance expertise

AbstractThis paper examines the production of Arctic governance expertise, understood here as the specialised knowledge through which international cooperation is regulated in the region. Instead of presuming that such expertise is created primarily in the capitals of Arctic states, I ask a more open-ended question:wherespecifically does that process take place? I argue that Arctic governance expertise increasingly operates in a transnational and networked fashion: an array of think tanks, foundations and events like conferences are as important as the obvious places like foreign ministries and universities. It is a quasi-diplomatic social field characterised by blurry boundaries between different states, professions and institutional settings: between government and academia, legal and political fields, public and private sectors. The paper foregrounds that field of expertise as an object of study.

Realizing food security through the development of urban farming to support the family economy during the Covid-19 pandemic

Food is a basic need for humans. Since March 2020, Covid-19 has been detected in Indonesia, which is feared to have an impact on food availability. Banten is a province that is included in Priority Category 3 in handling food insecurity. Cilegon is one of the cities in the Banten Province that is experiencing shrinkage of agricultural land. The purpose of this research is to formulate an urban farming development strategy in Cilegon. The method used in this research is the survey method. This type of research is descriptive, namely research that interprets the factors with the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis method to produce strategies that can support the development of urban farming. The number of samples is 22 residents who carry out urban farming in Ramanuju Baru, Cilegon. The results showed that the internal factor that became the strength was the residents having high motivation and initiative in carrying out urban farming, while the internal factor that became the weakness was the limited knowledge of the residents in developing urban farming from an economic perspective. The results of research from external factors that become opportunities are Cilegon Government Policies in realizing food security, while the threats are pests and diseases in urban farming plants that need to be controlled naturally. Based on the analysis of internal and external factors using the SWOT matrix, the strategy to develop urban farming in Cilegon is to collaborate with the government and urban farming experts to provide consistent assistance to make urban farming activities in Cilegon economically valuable. To realize food security in Cilegon, collaboration is needed in aiding the community to manage urban farming professionally, so that it can provide economic value for the community.

Local Government System in Nigeria: Legal, Fiscal and Political Overview

Since the return to civil rule in 1999, there has been sustained agitation for granting local governments autonomy as a prescription for them to deliver efficiently and effectively their assigned responsibilities. Thus, the article examines the local government system in Nigeria from both legal, fiscal, and political viewpoints. It focuses on how the context affects their structure, financial management, capacity, and performance. A combined reading of the provisions of the 1999 constitution, judicial and extra-judicial pronouncements will be revealed that everything relating to supervision, monitoring, and control of local governments in Nigeria is the prerogative of the state governments. The constitution charges the state governments to ensure their existence under a law, specifying their functions, structure, finances, and composition. Through qualitative study, drawing from the literature on the local government system in Nigeria and in-depth interviews with government officials and experts, the paper established that the extent to which state governments are administering and performing oversight activities over their local governments has significantly limited local governments in several ways. This explains the incessant agitation for granting local governments autonomy. Therefore, the paper recommends far-reaching reforms that will instil a viable local government system capable of harnessing local resources towards effective and efficient service delivery. However, it cautioned the efficacy of granting local governments autonomy as canvassed by several stakeholders, given how intertwined the assigned responsibilities of both state and local governments are.

Emerging international regime of information security

The article examines burning issues of the formation of an international regime in the field of ensuring international information security in the context of geopolitical transformations and turbulence. The theory of international regimes developed by Russian and foreign researchers is used as a theoretical and methodological basis for the study.Based on the classical definition of the international regime, the authors focus on the norms and principles in the field of international information security. The norms and principles in the field of international information security as the rules of responsible behavior in the global information space were first proposed by Russia and its SCO partners in 2011 as part of a discussion of the UN General Assembly. However, Russian initiatives met with resistance from the United States, resulting in a fragmentation of the existing regulatory regime in the field of international information security. Currently, the relevant norms and principles, which are based on the fundamental principles of international law, enshrined in the UN Charter, are presented in the resolutions of the UN General Assembly, and are also enshrined in the reports of the Group of Governmental Experts on achievements in the field of informatization and telecommunications in the context of international security.The norms fixed in the documents are not mandatory, but they make an important contribution to ensuring international stability by structuring the expectations of various actors in the field of information security. However, the lack of formal consolidation and institutionalization of these norms within the framework of international treaties reduces their legitimacy.

The Effects of Pensions Administration on Earnings Management of Listed Pension Companies in Nigeria

Purpose: This paper examined the effect of pension administration on earnings management (EM) of listed pension companies in Nigeria. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study employed an expo factor research design, and the study population was 35 listed pension companies in Nigeria over a study period of between 2013 and 2021. General least square (GLS) regression technique of analysis was employed to examine the study model. Findings: Result from the generalised least squares regression documented contribution density, and exits had a significant positive relation with EM except for pension fund. Practical Implications: The study might have practical implications for regulators and governance experts with understanding of related category of agency problems that might arise in the Nigerian context. The research highlighted the potential to improve the effectiveness of pension funds, contribution density, and exit age to achieve their ultimate objective in providing income replacement in retirement by developing portfolio strategies. Original Value: The study suggested the need for governments and their pension supervisors to consider a more active role in evaluating and proposing the long-term objectives of pension funds, contribution density, and exit ages for various categories of workers, as well as reducing the effect of EM. Keywords: Pension fund, contribution density, exits age and earnings management.

Sabda Raja Sultan Hamengku Buwono X Menurut Aktivis PWNU Yogyakarta Dan Aktivis PWM Yogyakarta: Studi Analisis Terhadap Penghapusan Gelar Khalifatullah

The Sultanate of Yogyakarta is the legal heir to the Islamic Mataram kingdom with a royal government system that still exists today. In the system of royal government, a Sultan (king) has the highest absolute authority, both in the form of prohibitions and orders. This research is a field research using the interview method with Nahdlatul Ulama activists (PWNU Yogyakarta) and Muhammadiyah activists (PWM Yogyakarta). This research is descriptive analytic in nature, namely an attempt to describe and collect data related to the removal of the title Khalifatullah, then an analysis of the data is carried out based on existing theories in Islamic law. The results showed that Nahdlatul Ulama activists refused to abolish the Khalifatullah title on the grounds that the Khalifatullah title contains al-'urf, and the Khalifatullah title has become a legitimacy and recognition that the line of power in the Palace is based on male offspring. Whereas Muhammadiyah activists refused to abolish the title on the grounds that they were in the leadership of the Keraton, the tradition of changing power was to adhere to a patriarchal system, and the title Khalifatullah was an affirmation that men were the ones who had the right to inherit the leadership of the Keraton. According to the author's analysis, Nahdlatul Ulama activists use the Ijtihad Jamâ'i method, namely in extracting and making decisions related to their rejection of the abolition of the Khalifatullah title by practicing qawa'id ushuliyyâh and qawa'id fiqhiyyâh and through deliberations and in-depth discussions by gathering people who understand the the problems, namely the clergy, government experts and the royal family of the palace. Whereas Muhammadiyah activists use the Al-Ijtihâd al-Istislahi method, which is more based on the illat or benefits obtained.

The diagnostic water governance tool − supporting cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination in water resources management

In the search for solutions for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), decision-makers frequently face governance-related challenges such as the fragmentation of institutions, the interconnection with other essential services and overlapping competences. In many cases, solutions to these challenges involve strengthening coordination between different actors and sectors. Today different digital tools and resources are available to support related decision-making processes. These tools can (1) offer a context-specific assessment of the water governance system (“Diagnosis”) and (2) provide, in some cases, context-specific recommendations to tackle identified deficits (“Therapy”). In this paper, we aim to advance the understanding of the potential of digital tools for water governance and management assessments. After reviewing relevant tools, we introduce the Diagnostic Water Governance Tool (DWGT) that builds on a clear diagnosis-therapy-logic. After presenting the empirical basis and functional logic of the DWGT, we test the DWGT in two case studies: the Guadalquivir river basin in Spain and the Emscher river basin in Germany. We find that the DWGT provides context-specific, evidence-based instrument recommendations that can enhance water governance and management, albeit accompanying suitability evaluations by governance experts remain critical. We conclude by discussing the limitations of digital tools for water governance and management assessments and sketch out fields of future research.

Critical network factors for eco‐innovation in manufacturing: A Delphi study from a triple helix perspective

AbstractManaging networks for eco‐innovation remains a top priority in manufacturing due to industrial collaborations being the de facto mode of functioning for modern manufacturing firms. Accordingly, an awareness of critical network factors is imperative for strategies that lead to successful sustainability‐focused partnerships and profitable collaborations. This study applies a group‐based multi‐criterion decision‐making technique—the Delphi methodology—to evaluate critical network factors for eco‐innovation in manufacturing from the viewpoint of 116 experts within the triple helix, that is, university, industry and government experts. The study uniquely frames the eco‐innovation strategy challenge for manufacturing from a network perspective. Review of literature and an online survey identifies 63 network motivational, configurational and transformational factors. Subsequent polled results show heterogeneity during Delphi selection (Cochran's Q: p < 0.001) and prioritisation (Friedman's Q: p < 0.001) rounds with ‘environmental concern by top management’, ‘innovative organisational strategies’, and ‘integrity norms of signed contract’ as the top motivational, configurational and transformational factors. The study also discusses the theoretical and managerial implications of the study for triadic orientations and triple helix framing of eco‐innovation networks and concludes by identifying research limitations and potential future research areas.

Customary International Humanitarian Law and Article 36 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions: A Stopgap Regulator of Autonomous Weapons Systems?

Abstract Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) are already in use around the world by various militaries. However, the law governing such systems in the scope of international humanitarian law (IHL) currently lacks specific binding international treaties. Nevertheless, the existing framework is not silent on the topic of new weapons. Article 36 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions provides an obligation for states to review new weapons. Consequently, as AWS are being adopted, acquired, and developed, the wide reach of 174 state parties of Article 36, therefore prima facie, represents a reasonable chance of providing some AWS regulation in the meantime. Nevertheless, Article 36 is generic to all new weapons and therefore unable to address concerns specific to AWS. Therefore, considering the vast difference of AWS to weapons which rely on a human operator, it is not unreasonable to state that there is a need for additional regulation. Hence, various non-binding guidelines and recommendations, such as the ‘11 Guiding Principles’ agreed upon by the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Group of Government Experts and the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Position on Autonomous Weapons Systems, could conceivably be considered to fill this void at least partly, albeit in a non-binding manner. When considered together with Article 36, these non-binding legal instruments could add predictability and consistency to the state parties’ reviews. Consequently, this paper will examine whether Article 36, in combination with the various non-binding instruments and national positions of state parties to Additional Protocol I, is viable as a binding stopgap measure to regulate AWS. As a result, the structure of the article is trifold. The first part focuses on Article 36, the second on the non-binding guiding instruments, and finally, when both are considered together, whether Article 36 could fulfil such a stopgap role.

자가용LNG발전소와 주변지역지원제도

LNG power generation is emerging as a new alternative. LNG power generation is said to have many environmental and economic advantages, with only 10% emission (emissions : urine output) and excellent efficiency such as facility management compared to thermal power generation such as coal. Accordingly, the government has also changed its policy stance in the direction of converting thermoelectric power plants into LNG power plants and has been providing various benefits to LNG power generation. For this reason, not only private enterprise operators but also public power generation companies are planning to change their facilities to LNG power plants or build new ones. Particularly noteworthy is that major companies, which have been consumers of electricity, are pushing for plans to build LNG power plants by themselves to produce and consume LNG power plants independently. Of course, since LNG power generation is environmentally and economically superior to existing thermal power generation, there is no need to oppose the expansion of LNG power plants. However, the reality is that they are not welcomed by the residents where the power plants are located. Nevertheless, many LNG power plants are already under construction across the country, and almost all of them are facing conflicts with residents. Therefore, in order for LNG power plants to become environmentally, socially, and economically useful and sustainable power generation facilities, legal and institutional measures should be prepared to correct the legislative deficiencies of the current ‘Act on Assistance to Electric Power Plants - Neighboring Areas’ to dispel residents' concerns and opposition. Therefore, legislative adjustments should be made, such as significantly improving the current ‘Act on Assistance to Electric Power Plants’. First of all, it should specify that LNG power plants are included in the current legislation, stipulate not only commercial power plants(utility generation power plants), but also isolated power plants(non-utility generation power plants), and clearly support corporate funding and obligations for their own isolated power plants. Second, it is to improve the unreasonable regulations of the existing Act on Assistance to Electric Power Plants. For example, the scope of the surrounding area should be set around the living area based on the distance from the existing power generation facilities, and sufficient compensation and support should be provided according to the degree of damage to residents. Third, the most important thing is to form an independent and a permanent scheme that jointly investigates and monitors environmental damage, which can be said to be the core of the conflict. This should be the cornerstone of a governance organization, including a producer utility generation(including private power plants), government, resident, representatives, and environmental experts. We hope to become a sustainable power plant that is welcomed by residents through the revision of the Act on Assistance to Electric Power Plants - Neighboring Areas.

자가용LNG발전소와 주변지역지원제도

LNG power generation is emerging as a new alternative. LNG power generation is said to have many environmental and economic advantages, with only 10% emission (emissions : urine output) and excellent efficiency such as facility management compared to thermal power generation such as coal. Accordingly, the government has also changed its policy stance in the direction of converting thermoelectric power plants into LNG power plants and has been providing various benefits to LNG power generation. For this reason, not only private enterprise operators but also public power generation companies are planning to change their facilities to LNG power plants or build new ones. Particularly noteworthy is that major companies, which have been consumers of electricity, are pushing for plans to build LNG power plants by themselves to produce and consume LNG power plants independently. Of course, since LNG power generation is environmentally and economically superior to existing thermal power generation, there is no need to oppose the expansion of LNG power plants. However, the reality is that they are not welcomed by the residents where the power plants are located. Nevertheless, many LNG power plants are already under construction across the country, and almost all of them are facing conflicts with residents. Therefore, in order for LNG power plants to become environmentally, socially, and economically useful and sustainable power generation facilities, legal and institutional measures should be prepared to correct the legislative deficiencies of the current ‘Act on Assistance to Electric Power Plants - Neighboring Areas’ to dispel residents' concerns and opposition. Therefore, legislative adjustments should be made, such as significantly improving the current ‘Act on Assistance to Electric Power Plants’. First of all, it should specify that LNG power plants are included in the current legislation, stipulate not only commercial power plants(utility generation power plants), but also isolated power plants(non-utility generation power plants), and clearly support corporate funding and obligations for their own isolated power plants. Second, it is to improve the unreasonable regulations of the existing Act on Assistance to Electric Power Plants. For example, the scope of the surrounding area should be set around the living area based on the distance from the existing power generation facilities, and sufficient compensation and support should be provided according to the degree of damage to residents. Third, the most important thing is to form an independent and a permanent scheme that jointly investigates and monitors environmental damage, which can be said to be the core of the conflict. This should be the cornerstone of a governance organization, including a producer utility generation(including private power plants), government, resident, representatives, and environmental experts. We hope to become a sustainable power plant that is welcomed by residents through the revision of the Act on Assistance to Electric Power Plants - Neighboring Areas.

Biorefinery concepts in the transition to the bioeconomy: A Q‐analysis from the Brazilian experts’ perspectives

AbstractBioeconomy development requires the adoption of a comprehensive concept of biorefinery. This study analyzes the experts’ perceptions regarding biorefinery concepts and discusses the implications for development of the bioeconomy in Brazil. Forty‐five statements about biorefinery concepts were prepared. Statements were grouped accordingly to assess whether the experts agree more with a conventional, transitional or comprehensive biorefinery concept. The statements were organized and submitted to the experts following the procedures outlined by Q‐methodology. Thirty‐six experts from the government (13), academia (17) and industry (6) participated in the study. Government, academic and industry experts answered ‘what is a biorefinery?’ differently. Biorefinery as a biobased value chain, a bioecological economic model and the basis for sustainable energy production were the most relevant among the eight factors explaining the experts’ perspectives on biorefinery (63.35% of the total variation). Since the perspectives on biorefinery vary among experts from different sectors, we conclude that joint efforts should be made to adopt a comprehensive biorefinery concept to enhance the transition to the bioeconomy. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Utility of Weapons Reviews in Addressing Concerns Raised by Autonomous Weapon Systems

Abstract The obligation to legally review weapons, means and methods of warfare has been identified by the Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems as one of its Guiding Principles. Despite calls to share practical measures and processes to undertake this review, national practice remains opaque and fragmented. This article describes the traditional weapons review process and explains why this process may need to be modified to adequately evaluate autonomous weapon systems (AWS). It uses three case studies of fictional AWS in various stages of development and acquisition to demonstrate how existing review processes can be adapted for the review of AWS. This article shows the utility of these reviews for ensuring compliance of AWS with existing legal requirements, thereby also demonstrating the suitability of existing law to regulate the use of this novel technology in warfare.