Host State Research Articles

The Importance of Money and Connections: Explaining International Status from UNGA Draft Sponsorship Networks

Can money and connections buy international influence and improve a state’s international status? This paper argues that outward foreign direct investment (FDI) by a state is associated with the improvement of its international status, as demonstrated in its increased probability of being co-sponsored in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) drafts initiated by it. Furthermore, connections among states in co-sponsorship networks, which are endogenous network features, such as sociality, popularity, mutuality, and transitivity, are associated with increased co-sponsorship likelihood. The outward FDI has the potential to increase the soft power of the home state from the bottom up and top down: the potential FDI host states are more likely to provide co-sponsorship out of aspiration for attracting FDI; multinational enterprises also have incentives to facilitate good relationships between home and host states. By taking a relational approach to studying international status from the network perspective, this paper explores how FDI is related to the UNGA drafts co-sponsorship networks worldwide from 2009 to 2018. Using temporal exponential random graph models (TERGM), this study finds that more FDI is associated with a state’s greater influence in the UNGA draft sponsorship network. Besides, from the network perspective, this paper enhances our understanding of the important concept of international status in world politics and it empirically highlights the significance of outward FDI and connections in influencing states’ behaviors.

Clinical significance and antifungal susceptibility profile of 103 clinical isolates of Scedosporium species complex and Lomentospora prolificans obtained from NIH patients.

Reduced susceptibility to antifungals is common among members of genera Scedosporium and Lomentospora, with optimal treatments still not fully defined. In vitro antifungal susceptibility results and clinical data do not comprehensively account for the advent of new Scedosporium species identified by molecular phylogenetics. Using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) methodology, we tested a total of 103 clinical isolates obtained from patients at the NIH Clinical Center. The most frequent species were Scedosporium apiospermum (63%) and Scedosporium boydii (11%), followed by Lomentospora prolificans (7%). The novel antifungal olorofim showed the lowest MICs against all Scedosporium spp. and L. prolificans, followed by micafungin. Among the triazoles, voriconazole showed lower MICs against Scedosporium spp. Amphotericin B and posaconazole demonstrated species-specific and inter-species variable activity. Itraconazole, isavuconazole, and terbinafine had higher MIC values against Scedosporium spp. and L. prolificans. Clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 90 isolates, of which nine patients (28 isolates) had active disease/infection and received antifungal treatment that included voriconazole or posaconazole. Five of these patients (56%) died, while three patients (33%) with chronic granulomatous disease were cured following hematopoietic cell transplantation. In 24 patients (62 isolates), the presence of the fungus was considered airway colonization. In conclusion, our data support the existence of species-specific and inter-species differences in the antifungal susceptibility patterns among members of genera Scedosporium and L. prolificans. The novel investigational antifungal olorofim may be a promising therapy. Our clinical data suggest that host status and administration of antifungal therapy most effective for each Scedosporium species complex are important determinants of outcomes.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding the epidemiology and clinical spectrum of infections caused by Scedosporium species complex and Lomentospora prolificans is integral to improving outcomes, particularly in severely ill and immunocompromised patients. In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing can provide an estimate of antifungal activity against fungal pathogens. Our study showed that species-specific and inter-species differences exist in the distribution of antifungal susceptibility patterns between Scedosporium and L. prolificans. Our clinical data also highlight that host status, along with effective antifungal therapy, plays a crucial role in determining treatment outcomes.

A novel transcriptional regulator, CdeR, modulates the type III secretion system via c-di-GMP signaling in Dickeya dadantii.

Dickeya dadantii is a bacterial pathogen that causes soft rot disease in many plant species worldwide, including temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions. This bacterium employs the type III secretion system (T3SS) to manipulate host immune responses. Although cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP), a ubiquitous bacterial second messenger, negatively regulates the expression of T3SS genes in D. dadantii, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we identified a potential transcriptional regulator, CdeR, which regulates the T3SS involving c-di-GMP. Through transposon mutagenesis, we discovered that deletion of cdeR in a gcpD mutant background restored T3SS gene expression. GcpD is a diguanylate cyclase responsible for c-di-GMP synthesis, and its deletion led to high T3SS gene expression due to low c-di-GMP. Further analysis revealed that, in the gcpD mutant background, CdeR regulates T3SS by manipulating intracellular c-di-GMP levels, involving another diguanylate cyclase, GcpL, whose expression is upregulated by CdeR. Additionally, we found that removing helical regions within the Helix-Turn-Helix DNA-binding domain of CdeR completely disrupted its regulation of the T3SS, underscoring the essential role of this domain in CdeR's functional activity. This study is the first to identify CdeR as a potential transcriptional regulator involved in T3SS regulation. Our findings provide significant insights into the regulatory mechanisms of T3SS and highlight the complex interactions between bacterial second messengers and transcriptional regulators in pathogenic bacteria.IMPORTANCEBacterial pathogens, such as Dickeya dadantii, must adapt to diverse environmental and host conditions by utilizing intricate regulatory networks to control virulence. This study identifies CdeR, a novel transcriptional regulator, as a crucial factor in modulating the expression of the type III secretion system (T3SS), a key virulence mechanism. Importantly, we show that CdeR operates in a cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP)-dependent manner, linking this second messenger to T3SS regulation in D. dadantii for the first time. Our findings reveal a sophisticated interaction between c-di-GMP signaling and transcriptional regulation, highlighting how these systems collectively drive bacterial virulence. This work advances our understanding of bacterial pathogenesis and opens new avenues for developing targeted strategies to mitigate soft rot disease in crops, potentially improving agricultural productivity and plant health.

Prospects of bovine milk small extracellular vesicles in veterinary medicine.

Prospects of bovine milk small extracellular vesicles in veterinary medicine.

Does climate aid reduce perceived climate risks to foreign direct investors?

ABSTRACT Studies show that climate risks are deterring multinational companies (MNCs) from making foreign investments in developing countries. This is worrisome, as foreign direct investment (FDI) is one of the key ingredients for generating economic growth and development in low- and middle-income nations. Investment avoidance is largely driven by concerns that adaptation costs will be left to MNCs. Therefore, they may not withhold investments when host states absorb those costs for them. Yet many developing countries lack the resources to do so. The international community is attempting to bridge this gap through the provision of climate aid. Aid inflows may signal to MNCs that a potential host state has the resources to address key climate risks, leading them to follow through on investments. This paper tests this argument by investigating whether climate aid reduces MNCs’ anxieties about investing in climate-vulnerable countries. Empirical results suggest that climate risks deter MNCs from investing in countries that receive low levels of climate aid. However, this effect vanishes as climate aid inflows rise. These findings indicate that foreign aid donors can play a productive role in ensuring ongoing inflows of FDI to developing countries, even in the presence of climate risks.

Red Phosphorescence at Elevated Temperatures Enabled by Dexter Energy Transfer in Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon-Xanthone Systems.

Organic materials with red persistent phosphorescence hold immense promise for biotechnology due to their excellent tissue permeability and high signal-to-background ratios. However, inefficient spin-orbit coupling, high triplet susceptibility, and narrow energy gapspromotednonradiative deactivations, pose a formidable obstacle to achieving efficient red phosphorescence. This study addresses these challenges by introducing xanthone (Xan)-based host-guest systems. Utilizing polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as guests, efficient red to near-infrared (NIR) phosphorescent materials with ultralong lifetimes and high quantum yields of up to 821 ms and 2.32%, respectively, are successfully developed. Ultrafast spectroscopy and theoretical studies reveal that Dexter energy transfer (DET) is the dominant mechanism responsible for red phosphorescence. This DET process between Xan and PAHs not only effectively utilizes the dark triplet state of the Xan host but also significantly enhances the triplet generation of the PAH guests, transforming them into potent phosphorescent luminophores. Furthermore, the inherent rigidity of Xan and PAHs endows the resulting materials with excellent phosphorescence performance, even at elevated temperatures (e.g., 423 K). This strategy, proven to be general, paves the way for designing efficient red/NIR phosphorescent materials through the DET mechanism, enabling their applications in molecular imaging and advanced high-temperature encryption.

Antifungal efficacy of Citrusfusion mediated silver nanoparticles in Candida species

BackgroundCandida species are commensal fungi that can become opportunistic pathogens under specific host and environmental conditions. The emergence of multidrug-resistant Candida strains poses a significant challenge. Nanotechnology represents a cutting-edge field offering precise and targeted delivery systems for combating fungal infections, leveraging the unique properties of plant-derived bioactive compounds. This investigation employed a biogenic approach utilizing polyherbal leaf extracts from Citrus limon and Citrus medica, known for their abundant Citral content.ResultsCitrus sp. extracts were used to synthesize Citrusfusion silver nanoparticles (CitAgNPs) through a green synthesis method. Characterization of CitAgNPs was carried out using advanced analytical methods ensuring the quality, uniformity, size, and charge. The synthesized CitAgNPs exhibited non toxic effect when tested on Vigna radiata and Danio rerio, highlighting their potential for sustainability and safe therapeutic use. Antifungal assays demonstrated the potent efficacy of CitAgNPs in various Candida strains, with low MIC and MFC. CitAgNPs exhibited remarkable biofilm inhibition capabilities and elucidated specific mechanisms of action in Candida species, surpassing the performance of fluconazole.ConclusionThis study underscores the immense potential of nanotechnology-driven approaches harnessing Citrus leaf extract for synthesizing highly effective antifungal nanoparticles. The fusion of biogenic nanoparticles with Citrus bioactive compounds presents a sustainable strategy for addressing the escalating challenge of azole-resistant Candida infections. The research outcomes suggest that CitAgNPs have promising applications in inhibiting Candida biofilms, offering potential solutions for infections caused by diaper rashes and onychomycosis, providing safe and effective alternatives to antifungal therapies.Graphical abstract

Innovative Interstate Academic-Public Health Agency Collaborations for Case Investigations and Outbreak Surge Capacity.

Student interview teams provided essential surge capacity for the conduct of routine enteric disease surveillance and outbreak activities during the COVID-19 pandemic response, for states with that resource available. This case study describes how student interview teams based in Colorado and Washington supported enteric disease interviewing for public health agencies in Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, and California, and demonstrates the feasibility and value of interstate student interview team work to provide enteric and other communicable disease surge capacity. In collaboration with their respective state health agencies, the Colorado School of Public Health Enteric Disease Interview Team (EDIT) and the University of Washington Student Epidemic Action Leaders (SEAL) team amended scopes of work and procedures for hiring and onboarding, training, work management and engagement, communication, and evaluation to offer enteric disease interviewing support to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the Wyoming Department of Health, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the California Department of Public Health. EDIT was assigned 467 enteric interviews in Nebraska, 193 in Wyoming, and 33 in Kansas; and the SEAL team was assigned 133 interviews from 26 clusters in California, with response rates of 68%, 79%, 58%, and 53%, respectively. The median time from case assignment to first interview for EDIT interviews was less than or equal to 1 day. The completeness of all interviews was satisfactory. Enteric disease epidemiologists from host state health departments and students reported valuing the interstate work. Establishing interstate student interview team support requires coordination but is possible and can be effective in providing essential surge capacity for states without a student interview team. It also provides intangible benefits such as strengthening relationships between states and affiliated university programs and providing professional experiences and networking opportunities for students.

Balancing the Investor-country Interests: Reforming FET Standards and Indirect Expropriation

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) plays a key role in the global economy, and its protection is often ensured through provisions in Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), particularly the Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET) standard. However, when the host country's actions lead to substantive devaluation of an investor's assets, often referred to as indirect expropriation, investors frequently invoke FET clauses to seek redress. Both FET and indirect expropriation are vaguely defined in international law, resulting in considerable space for interpretation by arbitral tribunals. Due to the protective nature of these provisions, tribunals often interpret these standards in favor of investors, which may lead to an imbalanced protection of investor rights. This imbalance can, in turn, encroach upon the sovereignty of host states and their ability to regulate in the public interest. Although Tribunals recently have taken some measures to restrict the interpretation of FET and indirect expropriation in dispute, these two treatments still face the risk of being abused by investors and becoming a pocket clause. This paper uses case studies and legal analysis to explore the ways in which such unbalanced interpretations undermine the interests of host states, particularly with respect to their regulatory and sovereign powers. This paper further proposes potential reforms of FET and indirect expropriation aimed at restricting the interpretation space of Tribunals while sustaining the flexibility of these two treatments, rebalancing the interests of both foreign investors and host countries.

Coal Mines and Multi-Faceted Risks in the United States: On a Path Toward a Sustainable Future or Emptying Out?

Coal is a major source of fuel in many countries, but its mining and use increase the impacts on human and environmental health. Given the wide variation in coal use by nation, we focused on one—the United States. Specifically, we examined the public health, community, and demographic characteristics of 130 U.S. counties with underground and/or surface coal mines that exemplify a land use that leads to a combination of natural and anthropogenic risks. We compared these 130 to other U.S. counties, finding that the coal counties had poorer health outcomes and behaviors, fewer community assets, lower socioeconomic status, and higher population losses compared to the remaining counties in their host states and other U.S. counties. Next, we looked for differences within the 130 coal counties. Counties with the most coal mines and production had the worst outcomes, especially when located in rural areas. We then examined federal programs to assist these coal communities, observing that the largest federal government programs appear to be sending more resources to the most distressed coal counties compared to the less distressed ones. The daunting challenge for the most heavily coal-dependent counties, their state governments, and federal government supporters is to jointly develop plans that are realistic and affordable, take advantage of local natural and human resources, and offer a path to sustainable existence. If the efforts do not succeed, these places run the risk of becoming politically invisible and their populations are likely to empty out.

Friend or Foe? Partisanship, Rivalry, and Overseas Foreign Direct Investment in the United States

ABSTRACTObjectiveThis article revisits how political partisanship and home and host‐state relations affect foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows.MethodWe use panel data for overseas Chinese and South Korean FDI into the United States from as early as 2006 to 2022.ResultsWe observe differences in Chinese and South Korean FDI, finding that Chinese firms prefer Republican‐governed states because of the lower economic costs and higher political safety sought by rival countries. Conversely, South Korean firms favor investing in states with divided governments since both Democrats and Republicans will want to take credit for the job creation from a U.S. ally, offering greater financial incentives to South Korean businesses. Divided governments also increase policy stability, benefitting South Korean firms. We also conduct robustness checks and assess the politics of the FDI mode of entry, and the results confirm our main findings.ConclusionOur study offers nuance into how partisanship and foreign relations between home and host states affect political risk and FDI.

Formal and informal integration in contexts of displacement: Exploring implications for youth civic identities

Abstract A vast number of young refugees are formally excluded from basic civil, political, and social rights in the countries where they have lived for many years, with little prospect of safe return to (and citizenship in) the places their families fled. While development policies frame youth civic participation as key to creating inclusive futures, frameworks like the Global Compact on Refugees focus on labour market integration, without reference to young people or their political subjectivities. This article draws on children’s political geographies and an intersectional approach to analyse findings from research with displaced youth in Jordan and Lebanon. Data show that although legal recognition is important, historical geopolitical dynamics, economic precarity, location, and gender significantly shape how young refugees relate to host states and navigate refugee- and nationality-based identities across and within contexts. These findings nuance understandings of young refugees’ civic identities as shaped by both interpersonal and institutional marginalization.

Enhancing the Optical Performance of Mid-Infrared Chalcogenide Glass Through Liquid Coating

Laser induced damage to optical component surfaces poses a critical challenge in the development of high-power laser systems. Such damage is typically influenced by its material host, defect distribution, laser parameters, and environmental conditions. The impact of surface defects becomes particularly pronounced under high-power, short-pulse laser irradiation, especially when surface roughness is suboptimal. In this study, we applied a liquid coating method to improve the surface quality of As2S3 glass under various surface conditions by eliminating defects with liquid. A detailed evaluation of the transmittance and surface laser damage threshold was conducted. The results reveal that effective liquid coating significantly reduces surface scattering and Fresnel reflection, resulting in up to a 24.8% increase in overall transmittance and a 2.17-fold improvement in the surface laser damage threshold. These findings underscore the critical role of liquid coating in enhancing optical material performance and offer a practical solution for optimizing high-power laser systems.

Clinical outcomes of dental implants placed in the augmented maxillary sinus: A 5-year retrospective study.

Factors influencing the success of an implant placed in augmented maxillary sinus need to be recognized. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various oral health conditions and treatment plan details on the clinical and radiographical outcomes of implants placed in the augmented sinus. In this clinical retrospective study, 39 participants (81 implants) that received dental implants after sinus lifting between January 2005 and July 2016 were evaluated. All the participants were examined by an operator clinically and radiographically in a blinded manner. A checklist including oral health and host condition, implant and prosthesis characteristics, and surgical approach variables was completed for each participant. The effect of these variables on probing depth (PD), marginal bone loss, bone formation in sinus, and patient satisfaction was analyzed using analysis of covariance models. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Survival rates after surgery and restoration placement were 93% and 100%, respectively. PD was found to be significantly higher in restorations with infragingival finish lines over 1.5 mm and in implants with score "2" for gingival index. Moreover, more bone formation was observed in implants with score "0" compared with score "2" for gingival index. In addition, the participants with plaque score "0" reported significantly more satisfaction than the participants with score "2" for plaque index. Inflamed gingiva was associated with more PD and less peri-implant bone formation in maxillary sinus. In addition, more patient satisfaction was reported by participants that had better plaque control.

Order among chaos: High throughput MYCroplanters can distinguish interacting drivers of host infection in a highly stochastic system.

The likelihood that a host will be susceptible to infection is influenced by the interaction of diverse biotic and abiotic factors. As a result, substantial experimental replication and scalability are required to identify the contributions of and interactions between the host, the environment, and biotic factors such as the microbiome. For example, pathogen infection success is known to vary by host genotype, bacterial strain identity and dose, and pathogen dose. Elucidating the interactions between these factors in vivo has been challenging because testing combinations of these variables quickly becomes experimentally intractable. Here, we describe a novel high throughput plant growth system (MYCroplanters) to test how multiple host, non-pathogenic bacteria, and pathogen variables predict host health. Using an Arabidopsis-Pseudomonas host-microbe model, we found that host genotype and bacterial strain order of arrival predict host susceptibility to infection, but pathogen and non-pathogenic bacterial dose can overwhelm these effects. Host susceptibility to infection is therefore driven by complex interactions between multiple factors that can both mask and compensate for each other. However, regardless of host or inoculation conditions, the ratio of pathogen to non-pathogen emerged as a consistent correlate of disease. Our results demonstrate that high-throughput tools like MYCroplanters can isolate interacting drivers of host susceptibility to disease. Increasing the scale at which we can screen drivers of disease, such as microbiome community structure, will facilitate both disease predictions and treatments for medicine and agricultural applications.

Efficient coupling of within-and between-host infectious disease dynamics.

Mathematical models of infectious disease transmission typically neglect within-host dynamics. Yet within-host dynamics - including pathogen replication, host immune responses, and interactions with microbiota - are crucial not only for determining the progression of disease at the individual level, but also for driving within-host evolution and onwards transmission, and therefore shape dynamics at the population level. Various approaches have been proposed to model both within- and between-host dynamics, but these typically require considerable simplifying assumptions to couple processes at contrasting scales (e.g., the within-host dynamics quickly reach a steady state) or are computationally intensive. Here we propose a novel, readily adaptable and broadly applicable method for modelling both within- and between-host processes which can fully couple dynamics across scales and is both realistic and computationally efficient. By individually tracking the deterministic within-host dynamics of infected individuals, and stochastically coupling these to continuous host state variables at the population-level, we take advantage of fast numerical methods at both scales while still capturing individual transient within-host dynamics and stochasticity in transmission between hosts. Our approach closely agrees with full stochastic individual-based simulations and is especially useful when the within-host dynamics do not rapidly reach a steady state or over longer timescales to track pathogen evolution. By applying our method to different pathogen growth scenarios we show how common simplifying assumptions fundamentally change epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics.

Pakistan’s Judicial Engagement with International Refugee Law

ABSTRACT This article examines the case law at different tiers of Pakistan’s judiciary in order to map its engagement with international refugee law. Pakistan hosts one of the world’s largest refugee populations, with no national legislation dealing with refugees. Nor has it ratified the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (Refugee Convention). Nevertheless, this article shows that Pakistan’s judicial engagement with the Refugee Convention has been meaningful and instructive. Rahil Azizi v The State is used to illustrate how domestic courts can utilize the principle of non-refoulement, as well as article 31 of the Refugee Convention, to deal with the situation of refugees unlawfully in the country of refuge. The judgment instructs the State that the application of existing domestic law for illegal foreigners or refugees should be nuanced and sensitive to their distinct vulnerabilities. Further, it is argued that, by creatively weaving together UNHCR–host State memoranda of understanding with constitutional and international law obligations, courts in non-signatory States can ensure stronger protection for refugees vis-à-vis ad hoc and regressive government policies.

The power switch in bilateral return migration management: the case of Norway and Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Why is it so exceedingly difficult for host states to return irregular migrants to their countries of origin? Emphasizing the importance of including the viewpoints of both origin and destination countries, this article argues that there is a ‘power switch’ in the politicized practice of returning migrants from North to South: whereas immigration spells power and control on the destination side, in return processes, the command is reversed, with the Southern state functioning as gatekeeper. Based on interviews with Norwegian, Ethiopian and EU officials placed in Ethiopia, this article focuses on the bilateral return migration corridor between Norway and Ethiopia. Referencing the emerging constructivist strand of international relations studies of migration, we map and analyze the interplay and effects of converging and diverging interests and norms at the local, national, and international levels. The study reveals that while certain norms constrain the deportation of failed asylum seekers and migrants in both countries, there are several conflicting interests and norms between Norway and Ethiopia regarding return. Norway actively promotes return to protect its asylum regime and social welfare system, while Ethiopia benefits from diaspora remittances, seeks to avoid criticism from politically important diaspora communities and stresses national norms of state sovereignty.

Novel broadly reactive monoclonal antibody protects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

The incidence of infections attributed to antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens has increased exponentially over the recent decades reaching 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019. Without intervention, these infections are predicted to cause up to 10 million deaths a year and incur costs of up to 100 trillion US dollars globally by 2050. The emergence of AMR bacteria such as the ESKAPEE pathogens, and in particular Pseudomonas aeruginosa and species from the genus Burkholderia, underscores an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy offers a promising alternative to treat and prevent bacterial infections. In this study, we used peptides from highly conserved areas of the bacterial flagellin to generate monoclonal antibodies capable of broad binding to flagellated Gram-negative bacteria. We generated a broadly reactive IgG2bĸ mAb (WVDC-2109) that recognizes P. aeruginosa, Burkholderia sp., and other Gram-negative pathogens of interest. Characterization of the therapeutic potential of this antibody was determined using P. aeruginosa as model. In vitro characterization of WVDC-2109 demonstrated complement-mediated bactericidal activity and enhanced opsonophagocytosis of P. aeruginosa. Prophylactic administration of WVDC-2109 markedly improved survival and outcome in a lethal sepsis model and a sub-lethal murine pneumonia model of P. aeruginosa infection, reducing bacterial burden and inflammation. These findings suggest that WVDC-2109 and similar FliC-targeting antibodies could be valuable in preventing or treating diseases caused by P. aeruginosa as well as other life-threatening diseases of concern.IMPORTANCEAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) costs hundreds of thousands of lives and billions of dollars annually. To protect the population against these infections, it is imperative to develop new medical countermeasures targeting AMR pathogens like P. aeruginosa and Burkholderia sp. The administration of broadly reactive monoclonal antibodies can represent an alternative to treat and prevent infections caused by multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Unlike vaccines, antibodies can provide protection regardless of the immune status of the infected host. In this study, we generated an antibody capable of recognizing flagellin from P. aeruginosa and B. pseudomallei along with other Gram-negative pathogens of concern. Our findings demonstrate that the administration of the monoclonal antibody WVDC-2109 enhances survival rates and outcomes in different murine models of P. aeruginosa infection. These results carry significant implications in the field given that there are no available vaccines for P. aeruginosa.

Defying the “Illiberal” Gig Economy: Coping Strategies of Freelance Domestic Workers in the United Arab Emirates

How do low-skilled migrant workers navigate restrictive gig economies in illiberal host states of the Global South? Despite the growing gig economy, scholars have yet to examine the linkage between the politics of the gig economy and migrant resilience in illiberal host states in the Global South. Using a single case study of freelance Filipina domestic workers in the UAE (N = 20), I argue that, despite facing legal and economic risks (penalties), freelance migrant workers have produced an informal freelancing visa system to contest the formal and hierarchical segmentation of the gig economy via three diverse strategies: co-optation, tapping and brokering. These evasive social coping strategies mirror their collective resistance against structural labour exploitation and reinforce their autonomous role in the social (re)production of community solidarity within informal gig economies. Overall, this study contributes to empirical and theoretical discourse on the politics of illiberal migration management and the gig economy by featuring female migrant freelancers’ complex social agency within illiberal gig economies in the Global South.