Humanitarian Policy Research Articles

Соціальна політика як чинник забезпечення життєстійкості держави

In the conditions when Ukrainian statehood is facing the most serious challenge in its recent history, issues regarding state policy priorities in the social and economic sphere are becoming relevant. The goal of the article is to study the place and role of social policy in the process of ensuring the sustainability of the state. General scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, generalization, classification, system analysis, as well as a graphic method for visualization of the obtained results were used to form the main theses of the study. The work analyzes the modern scientific and theoretical platform and basic definitions of the concept of «sustainability», investigates the specifics and permanent context of the use of terms related to it — viability, stability and resilience, offers a systemic view of the state’s viability and identifies its components. Social policy is considered as an element of the management system of social processes, which directly affects the sustainability of Ukrainian society. At the current stage of development of the global economy, human is the main source of economic growth, and the quality of human potential is the key to the state’s competitiveness. Taking this into account, the importance of social and humanitarian policy is growing many times over. In economic policy, making a profit does not become a self-sufficient activity, instead the policy should be aimed at the person, unlocking the potential of the individual and forming the quality human potential of the state. Therefore, when assessing social policy, one should remember the value of a person, in particular the economic one, and the need for appropriate investments — in safety, health care system, and improving working conditions for the development of this resource. The work highlights the main elements of the state’s sustainability, shows the connection between its higher-level elements, such as the sustainability of the economy and the sustainability of society. It is in society — in the family, community, at the place of study — that the personality is formed and acquires a certain physical condition, education, professional skills and qualifications, and social connections. In this way, human and social capital is formed as a resource for the development of the economy and, accordingly, its stability and sustainability. At the same time, the economy generates material and financial resources that are necessary for both physical existence and development of an individual, as well as for the existence of society as a whole, in particular, social and engineering infrastructure facilities. The conducted analysis clearly demonstrates the importance of social policy as a social institution of sustainability in the state.

The Problems of Ideology in the Context of State-Legal Reality

Introduction. The article analyzes the phenomena associated with the emergence of ideologies, their manifestations in the conditions of state and legal reality, as well as the views of researchers regarding the concept of ideology, which for many decades was considered as false consciousness. Changes occurred only by the end of the XX century with the emergence of new scientific concepts with the participation of foreign and domestic scientists. social group, then there should also be a political direction in the activities of the state. It could have the character of a humanitarian policy. The study presents its author's definition. Particular attention is paid to the nature of the interaction between ideology and law, which is considered as a value phenomenon. After the adoption of the decree on the approval of the foundations of state policy for the preservation of traditional values, such a conceptual document is considered by the authors in the context of its ideological content, without which strategic planning for the development of the country is impossible. The issues of interaction between ideology and law are analyzed in the format of the state as a complex social system. The article contains an analysis of the influence of information technologies used in legal relations, which generates the need for legal regulation, which means that they are included in the object of legal cognition, reflection and comprehension by legal consciousness. The conclusion is made that it is necessary to pay more attention to the factors that have a positive impact on legal consciousness. It is argued that the state-legal reality allows us to see the state in its legal design and legal consolidation, and the law in its state provision and guarantee, without interfering with the detailed analysis of both the state and the law. In conclusion, the author formulates proposals concerning the objective demand for ideological forms by the state and its power structures, even if the dominant ideology is not enshrined in the country, since all social institutions have ideological foundations in the protection of values and traditions in society.Materials and methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the scientific research consists of general scientific and special scientific methods of cognition. In the work, the methods of systemic, comparative legal analysis, ascent from the abstract to the concrete, philosophical and legal research tools of ideological processes, the involvement of the results of domestic and foreign research on the interaction of ideology and law, statehood, state structure as a complex social system were used.Results of the study. Based on the results of the analysis, it was revealed that the state and its power structures in the conditions of a specific state-legal reality objectively require ideological forms, even if the dominant ideology is not fixed in the country. Consequently, all social institutions have ideological foundations in the protection of values and traditions in society. Discussion and conclusion. The ideological component is manifested in law, among other things, in politically engaged, opportunistic norms and normative legal acts. The intellectual content of the country's strategic development is closely related to the concept of "Russian identity". Identity answers the questions: What are we? Where are our roots? What are our traditions? How do we pass on these traditions from generation to generation? The description of identity remains a scientific and historical description of society. In turn, identity is closely related to ideology. But if identity answers one question: What are we? Ideological forms contain answers to the questions: Where are we heading? What is our goal?

Развитие системы педагогического образования в Республике Гана

Relevance. Integration of African students into the Russian cultural and educational space is one of the most effective means of fostering friendly bilateral relations in order to implement Russia’s humanitarian policy on the African continent. Pedagogical education can become an important form of cooperation; it may include enrolling foreign students in higher education programs and expanding our work in educational centers abroad. Such a center promoting Russian culture among students was opened in the Republic of Ghana in 2003. However, our understanding of the organization of pedagogical education – primarily the system of teacher training – will contribute to deeper integration into the Ghanaian educational system in order to achieve the above-mentioned objective. We should aim to comprehend the internal structure, objectives, content, management, and evolving directions of the Ghanaian educational system, grounded in its history. The aim of the research is to analyze the contemporary system of teacher training education in the Republic of Ghana. The methodology uses a cultural approach, blending comparative and historical pedagogical methods with analysis of scientific literature, state educational documents, reports of the Ministry of Education and international organizations, enhanced by field observations and interviews with representatives of Ghana’s higher education. The findings reveal a dynamic evolution in Ghana’s higher education system, highlighting its contemporary structure, governance, and educational policies concerning teacher training. Conclusion: the study identifies the principles underpinning the organization of Ghana’s national pedagogical education and notes the active renewal phase of the teacher training system, which aligns with national interests yet relies on international support (methodological and financial). Therefore, at the moment, Ghana is as open as possible for cooperation in teacher training education. Practical application: the research results are valuable for the development of the Center for Open Education in Ghana and for creating joint training programs under the Russian Federation’s Humanitarian Policy abroad. Additionally, the results can contribute to comparative pedagogy courses at university level.

Sport and physical activities: actual Ukraine’s strategic narrative (in terms of encyclopedias)

Background and purpose Outline the importance of sports encyclopedias as a form of spreading and promoting a healthy lifestyle and popularizing high-achieving sports for the social and humanitarian development of Ukraine. Material and methods In the article, the primary used research methods are overview and descriptive analysis (an overview of academic publications indexed in Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and National Library of Ukraine, as well as data on Ukrainian encyclopedias from the Corpus of Ukrainian Encyclopedias). This is a basis for descriptive analysis the capability of sports activities to improve the physical and mental (emotional, moral-volitional) resilience of the Ukraine’s population during wartime difficulty, the overall health level of the nation, and the demographic and accordingly economic situation in the country. Additionally, based on descriptive analysis, the potential of encyclopedias on sports and athletes in promoting a healthy lifestyle and physical activities among the population is examined). Reflection method is also used: authors offer a vision of how encyclopedic knowledge about sports and athletes should be structured to help improve the nation’s health, demographic, and economic situations, and thus resistance to Russian aggression). Results The war in Ukraine significantly damages the population’s health, adversely affecting the demographic and economic situation in the country. As a result, state humanitarian policy must focus on finding ways to counter these threats and emerging from this crisis. The article emphasizes that targeted, systematic development of sports and physical culture should be among the state policy priorities, as sports and physical activities improve population health. Authors show that promoting physical culture and a healthy lifestyle is crucial in this process, necessitating the studying of various information sources that can disseminate sports relevant knowledge and identifying the most effective ones. Conclusions Based on extensive justifications, the article proposes the idea of creating a Ukrainian sports encyclopedia as a means of promoting a healthy lifestyle among the Ukrainians, particularly essential in the post-war period. This would contribute to Ukraine's restoration by improving its demographic, socio-economic situation, and encouraging the return of Ukrainian refugees. The potential of a sports encyclopedia lies in highlighting and popularizing distinguished athletes who have achieved success and are respected globally, serving as role models, especially for the young generation of the country. The encyclopedic promotion of famous Ukrainian athletes is considered an effective mechanism for fostering a healthy lifestyle and patriotic feelings among Ukrainian citizens. The preparation of such a publication should rely on global encyclopedic-biographical experience, modern information technologies, and academic knowledge.

Humanitarian diplomacy and the countries of the Global South: Trends and discourses

In recent years, discussions about the essence of humanitarization and humanization of international relations have intensified due to the aggravation of economic, social, and ethical problems against the background of a sharp deterioration in the international situation, particularly in the Global South. This paper aims to identify the specifics and provide a comparative analysis of the approaches of both the developed and developing states of the North and the South to the formats, content and purpose of humanitarian diplomacy in contemporary world politics. The first section examines academic discussions on the issues of humanitarian diplomacy. The authors highlight two main approaches in foreign and Russian international political studies to addressing the humanitarian problems of the Global South — an objectal and a subjectal ones. The former is typically associated with the developed countries of the Global North and is rooted in the practices of the colonial era. The latter gained prominence in academic research in the 21st century with the emergence of the ‘new donors’, which promoted joint development programs led by the countries of the Global South and built on regional financial institutions. At the same time, the authors note that academic research tends to focus primarily on the dynamics of aid flows and conditions for development assistance, while a number of current trends in the humanitarian diplomacy remain understudied. These trends are examined in the second section of the article. The authors emphasize the growing trend towards transnationalization and privatization of humanitarian diplomacy, active involvement of non-state and hybrid actors. The third section outlines the key features of humanitarian diplomacy of the leading countries of the Global South (China, India, Turkey), as well as that of the ASEAN states and Arab monarchies. The authors identify several general principles of humanitarian diplomacy shared by the countries of the Global South: a broad, pluralistic understanding of the humanitarian agenda to include cultural, scientific, academic, and youth policy issues; commitment to the ideas of solidarity and humanitarian cooperation (instead of the donor-recipient model); normative neutrality of the humanitarian policy; adherence to the principles of state sovereignty.

Standardising job descriptions in the humanitarian supply chain: A text mining approach for recruitment process.

Uncertainty and complexity have increased in recent decades, posing new challenges to humanitarian organisations. This study investigates whether using standard terminology in Human Resource Management processes can support the Humanitarian supply chain in attracting and maintaining highly skilled operators. We exploit text mining to compare job vacancies on ReliefWeb, the reference platform for humanitarian job seekers, and ESCO, the European Classification of Skills, Competencies, and Occupations. We measure the level of alignment in these two resources, providing quantitative evidence about terminology standardisation in job descriptions for supporting HR operators in the Humanitarian field. The most in-demand skills, besides languages, relate to resource management and economics and finance for capital management. Our results show that job vacancies for managerial and financial profiles are relatively more in line with the European database than those for technical profiles. However, the peculiarities of the humanitarian sector and the lack of standardisation are still a barrier to achieving the desired level of coherence with humanitarian policies.

خاستگاه مفهوم حقوق بشر در اسناد بین‌المللی با توجه به سیاست اقدامات بشردوستانه

In the contemporary era, one of the fundamental values is the issue of human rights, and there is a persistent conflict between theory and practice regarding this matter. In the international environment, where states have both friendly and hostile relations with each other, a question arises: what is the origin of the concept of human rights in international documents concerning the humanitarian policies of states? It appears that humanitarian actions are in conflict with the principle of state sovereignty, and there is a predominantly political approach towards humanitarian interventions. The importance and necessity of this matter are based on the fact that states, according to the provisions of the United Nations Charter, possess sovereignty that is not easily violated by other states. However, since the defense and guarantee of human rights are largely the responsibility of major powers, they have always utilized this principle to maintain their dominance and secure their national interests. The current research employs an analytical-descriptive method, gathering information through library resources, scientific journals, and credible articles. The findings of the research indicate that powerful states today justify their interventions by amplifying human rights and humanitarian issues, thereby facilitating their extensive, pervasive, and permanent interventions.

Russian humanitarian policy: problems and solutions

The article examines some problems of Russia’s humanitarian policy and humanitarian cooperation. According to the author, domestic humanitarianism does not go beyond the boundaries established by the Helsinki Final Act. The formulation of tasks and directions of domestic humanitarian policy contained in strategic planning documents is reduced only to a description of the methods and conditions of communication, leaving the specifics of humanitarian activities and humanitarian instruments outside the scope of strategic planning documents, thereby complicating its institutionalization. The author believes that the goal of humanitarian cooperation may be the formation of a global structure of support for domestic foreign policy initiatives, representing a dense network of interactions that provides ripple effects, expanding Russia’s influence and forming new dependencies. But achieving such a goal is impossible without putting forward a clear alternative to the modern world order, which will reflect not only the interests of Russia, but also of countries that disagree with the Western-centric world order.

The ‘inherent vulnerability’ of women on the move: A gendered analysis of Morocco’s migration reform

Abstract Beginning in the 1990s, Morocco increasingly became a de facto host country for sub-Saharan migrants and asylum seekers originally intending to reach Europe. While the government’s treatment toward these groups was characterized by informality and violence throughout the early 2000s, Morocco embarked on a reform process in 2013 that included a regularization process for irregular migrants. During the regularization process, the Moroccan government automatically granted all women applicants residency status due to their presumed ‘vulnerability’. This paper asks: What are the implications of assuming that women are ‘inherently vulnerable’? Drawing on in-person interviews and an analysis of policy documents, this article adds to the gendered migration and refugee literature by demonstrating that supposedly humanitarian policies toward women can also victimize them, stereotype male migrants and refugees as threatening, and strengthen the patriarchal role of the state and its ability to carry out violence in the name of protection.

Examining primary healthcare services following earthquake shocks in Turkiye: A critical analysis of the initial 3months and the vital role of humanitarian policy transfer for rapid response.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of policy transfer by humanitarian NGOs to post-disaster regions and the effectiveness of mobile Primary Health Care (PHC) services immediately after disasters. This study also focused on analysing the first 3months aftermath of the earthquake and assessed the changes in the access and needs of vulnerable groups in emergency response creation and systematic interventions after disasters. In disasters that require urgent response such as earthquakes, the importance of the existing NGOs (Such as MdM) capacity in the countries has emerged in terms of rapid response and experience sharing. During the field work, it is observed that MdM Mobile Medical Units (MMU) teams had played a key role in terms of tracking PHC needs, functioning as early warning system for epidemics, and prevention of communicable diseases in the EQ effected areas. In this aspect, the changes in diagnoses in the first trimester is examined using the comparative analysis methods. This study used a cross-sectional mixed-method approach in terms of objective evaluation. The results from a quantitative needs assessment were complemented by qualitative data. Herein, the data were collected in two stages: First, primary data was collected through the field activities of MMU, and second field-based assessments was conducted with health professionals who have been working in the MMU teams since the first moments of the earthquake.

Designing Efficient and Equitable Freight Services Markets for Sustainable Economic Performance

Despite the indispensability of freight trucking services and truckers’ role as critical stakeholders in supply chains, relatively little attention has been paid to analyzing small independent truckers’ roles. Shippers often prefer working with larger trucking companies to the detriment of smaller independent truckers, who must grapple with an inherently disadvantageous job market. Furthermore, in the presence of uncertainty or peak demand periods, trucker shortages can pose significant economic challenges for shippers and downstream customers. In this paper, we propose an analytical framework to address these challenges in efforts to enhance the sustainability of the freight service industry. We formulate and solve a weighted bi-objective optimization model that simultaneously maximizes the total profits of both shippers and truckers to design a sustainable freight services market. Further, we leverage Monte Carlo simulation trials to examine how all players in this market can achieve a better solution under uncertainty. Ultimately, after evaluating multiple scenarios, we find that shippers and truckers yield the highest economic benefits under a balanced design that leverages principles of supply chain coordination, while satisfying all demand from shippers. This framework can serve as a decision support tool for policymakers who aim to ensure all stakeholders in the market can become and remain profitable. Based on our findings, this study suggests practical implications on how to consider humanitarian policies aimed at promoting equity for truckers and ensuring the timely shipment of essential products for both shippers and truckers.

PARTNERSHIP INTERACTION OF THE STATE AND CIVIL SOCIETY AS A MECHANISM FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF UKRAINE'S HUMANITARIAN POLICY IN THE CONDITIONS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

The article represents an attempt to analyze the landscape of partnership between government and civil society within the implementation of humanitarian policy in Ukraine and EU. Theoretical provisions of such partnerships are presented, and real state-of-the art in humanitarian space of the USA, EU, and Ukraine is investigated. Particularly, the phenomenon of precariat is considered through the lens of its role for civil society’ stability and designing effective humanitarian policies to improve social capital.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERACTION BETWEEN THE STATE AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF UKRAINE'S HUMANITARIAN POLICY: THE EUROPEAN DIMENSION

The article shows that the idea of civil society at the present stage is undergoing serious changes, which determines corresponding changes in the mechanisms and vectors of partnership between the state and civil society. In particular, the object of the study is the socio-political interaction of government authorities and institutions organizing civil society in the landscape of digital transformation. The concepts of digital polyarchy and digital anarchy are analyzed, and the role of humanitarian policy in overcoming negative trends in the interaction between the state and civil society is outlined.

FORMATION OF THE INFORMATION SPACE AS AN ELEMENT OF UKRAINE'S HUMANITARIAN POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

The article examines conceptual features of information space transformations in postclassical era and its implications for Ukraine within the process of European integration of the country. The key concerns of today's information space in Ukraine in its connection with humanitarian policy are considered. The presence of the phenomenon of paradigm shift in the information space caused by war, and the necessity of changing methods of organizing this space as an element of the humanitarian policy of Ukraine, taking into account national realities and the process of European integration, is noted.

Humanitarian activist citizens: the emergence of a ‘victim’ political subjectivity in Colombia

ABSTRACT This article develops the concept of ‘humanitarian activist citizenship’ to analyse the political work of grassroots organisations representing groups and individuals displaced during Colombia’s civil conflict. In Colombia, the armed conflict has led to the forced migration of around 8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). In response, self-identified IDPs and other victims of violence have formed organisations and staged protests to claim collective rights. This article emerges out of a narrative analysis of interviews conducted with members of IDP grassroots organisations in Bogotá between 2017 and 2018. Building on insights from the ‘acts of citizenship’ literature, it argues that the political work of these organisations must be understood as a form of ‘humanitarian activist citizenship’, through which groups and individuals victimised by violence in Colombia mobilise humanitarian policies and discourses to redefine the relations that exist between them and the state.

Problems and Issues of Humanitarian Policy Representation in the Era of Digital Uncertainty

The article considers the problems of representation of the humanitarian policy achievements of the Russian Federation in contemporary fragmented information space conditions. Modern digital reality imposes multiple structural limitations on the objectives of the state’s humanitarian activities abroad, expressed in the problems of forming the country’s image through online platforms that actively hinder Russian soft power. The article aims to establish basic scenarios of response to the existing limitations in humanitarian policy representation. The methodological basis is scenario analysis with elements of agent-based modeling in describing the activities of digital platforms in the information moderation process. The paper explores the problems of terminological pluralism associated with “humanitarian policy,” as well as ideological and normative constraints imposed on Russian humanitarian activities. In addition, the paper describes the mechanisms of digital interference of online platforms in the information space and models three basic and one additional response scenario to such challenges. The basic scenarios include an alternative information space formation, convergence with the information space of other countries, and restoration of status in the global space. Each scenario has its own reputational and technical costs, partly addressed by the additional scenario based on less widespread but relatively independent information platforms. The main conclusion of this article is the need to develop a balanced approach within the framework of Russian humanitarian and information policy, taking into account the costs of all basic scenarios and relying on the current correlation between technical capabilities and defined objectives

Роль TIKA в реализации гуманитарного направления внешней политики Турции в период правления ПСР (2002–2023 гг.)

The article aims to analyze the role of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in the implementation of Türkiye’s humanitarian policy during the Justice and Development Party (AKP) governance. The authors identify three main tracks in the evolution of TIKA during the AKP rule: from an exclusively state body to a connecting institution in the triangle “state – business – civil society”; from the focus on Turkic states to growing attention towards countries of the Middle East, Africa, and the Balkan Peninsula; from an instrument for providing humanitarian assistance to a mechanism for promoting Turkish values in priority regions. The article examines the features of changes in the status, tasks, and functions, as well as the geographical scope of TIKA’s activities as an instrument for implementing humanitarian policy of Türkiye. The authors come to the conclusion that one of the key elements of TIKA’s success is an integrated approach to the implementation of humanitarian projects. This includes not only organization of cultural and educational events, but also its mediating role in the implementation of infrastructure projects, as well as initiatives in the fields of education and religion.

Age at arrival and integration outcomes of refugee youth and emerging adults: a longitudinal study.

Age at arrival is one factor that could influence the integration of humanitarian migrants, especially for children and teenagers. Previous research has focused on the influence of the age at arrival on education, employment, social and language learning outcomes, but there is limited research, especially for longitudinal study, on other important measures of integration. Moreover, young adult and adolescent refugees, and the relationship between age and integration outcomes are under-studied. To address these gaps, this study examined the relationships between age at arrival and different dimensions of integration of young refugees in Australia, using five years' panel data from the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) longitudinal study from 2013 to 2018 (282 individuals). Our findings indicate that age at arrival is significantly correlated with multiple integration outcomes. Old entrants tend to have a higher probability of having a paid job but have poorer mental health and English proficiency. On the other hand, older entrants were more likely to know their rights well compared to younger entrants at arrival. However, younger entrants' knowledge of their rights overtook older entrants four to five years after their arrival. These findings suggest that a shorter assessment process and enabling earlier entry especially among refugee youth and young adults could effectively improve their future settlement outcomes under the current humanitarian policies and system.

The Language Resources of the Russia’s Foreign Humanitarian Policy: The Digital Components

The rapidly changing geopolitical situation has dictated the need for a conceptual design of the humanitarian policy of the Russian Federation abroad as a direction of foreign policy that is gaining priorities. The formation of an objective perception of Russia in the world involves systematic interaction with foreign audiences through digital infrastructure. Numerous digital platforms, being created by foreign tech giants, with their own rules and standards, compete with states, influence public opinion and public discourse. The “Russian language” of one of the largest segments of the digital space is ambivalent: in other words, it does not always mean a complimentary attitude towards Russia and Russian culture. Based on the available and collected data of Internet statistics, an assessment is made of the role of Russian-language digital resources as an opportunity to achieve the goals of Russia’s foreign humanitarian policy. On the example of the RuWiki, the Russian-language section of the Wikipedia online encyclopedia, it is shown how social media can be used in an ideological and value confrontation. In a comparative vein, Russian initiatives in the creation and promotion of national digital platforms are described on the example of encyclopedic portals - “Knowledge” based on the Great Russian Encyclopedia and Runiversalis. The main directions of humanitarian policy in the digital space are outlined, considering the geopolitical context. It is concluded that the development of domestic digital infrastructure will create a common semantic field for gravitation towards Russia, the Russian language and culture, regardless of the geopolitical situation. It is suggested that the formation of a more pronounced Russian-speaking segment of the global network reflects the idea of a multipolar world defended by Russia.

“Poor Devils”: German Contributions to American Flood Relief and the Early Cold War

ABSTRACT In July 1951, the American Midwest experienced one of its worst floods in its history up to that point, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. While ostensibly a national issue, the natural disaster also drew the attention of hundreds of German citizens who donated to the relief effort. In the letters accompanying their donations, these Germans emphasized that they wanted to submit a token of their gratitude to the American people and begin to pay back a fraction of what they felt they owed for American humanitarian assistance in the immediate postwar era. Though the American government did not solicit these donations, it saw value in help publicising the donations and their letters. Locked in a propaganda battle with the Soviet Union, American authorities promoted these donations not only as evidence of German-American friendship, but also as evidence that their humanitarian policy at the dawn of the Cold War had achieved significant cultural, political, and diplomatic goals throughout Germany.