Intergovernmental Organizations Research Articles

Government document citations in top nursing journals: A bibliometric analysis.

Citation analysis studies the use of citations found in various types of publications, including the use of government information, and can provide insight into research utilisation in nursing literature. Using citation analysis, this study examines the use, prevalence and jurisdiction of government information use among seven nursing research journals based on ranking criteria. Government information citations were identified across three types of articles: editorials, reviews and research articles. Nearly two-thirds of the articles in this study cite some form of government information, and the average percentage of government citations is 5.38 of all citations. Government information was identified from national governments, inter-governmental organizations and state and regional governments. Understanding the use, prevalence and jurisdiction of government information informs health information professionals allowing them to engage with nursing students and researchers about this important type of information and the types of articles that use government information. Nursing researchers frequently cite government information in their work. This has implications for librarians, nursing researchers and health professionals. Understanding the intersection of government information and nursing research should inform future practice in evidence-based nursing research and nursing education.

The Challenges of Intergovernmental Organizations in Combating Transnational Crime: An Indonesian Perspective

Human trafficking is a pressing global issue, especially in the Southeast Asian region, where Indonesia plays a role as a country of origin, transit and destination. This study aims to identify the cooperation between the Indonesian Police and ASEANAPOL using descriptive qualitative research methods. This research also highlights the role of ASEANAPOL through 4 strategies of handling Indonesian Police in collaboration with ASEANAPOL which include capacity building through training (ATCM), international meetings (AMMTC and SOMTC), electronic-based real-time information exchange (System e-ADS), and strengthening cross-border investigation mechanisms through the Joint Coordination System (JCS) with border guarding and dispatching personnel such as Attache POLRI (ATPOL) and POLRI Technical Staff (STAFNISPOL). While this research focuses on preventive responses to human trafficking, there are limitations that need to be considered, including aspects of prevention and prosecution involving victim identification and protection. Future research is recommended to explore all aspects, including prevention and prosecution measures, to develop ASEANAPOL’s organisational framework in addressing transnational crimes.

Keeping Peace in Troubled Times: Perspectives from Different Disciplines on War and Peace, edited by Nina Käsehage. Springer, Cham. XV, 266 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56038-5

The book comparatively analyzes past, present and possible future war and crisis situations. In doing so, the authors pay special attention to the nature of global conflicts and international actors, which international organizations and diplomacy of different countries are working to overcome. The book also examines the complexities of relations between governments of small and large states, NATO, the UN, intergovernmental and regional organizations, CSOs and transnational corporations, which despite their interdependence are still far from sustainable development. The authors discuss various issues of diplomacy, international relations theory, Eurasian politics, the European Union, international organizations, threats and challenges, global civil society, religion and culture as they relate to peoples in a complex world.

Some aspects of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in the activities of the Council of Europe

The article is devoted to the study and analysis of the acts defining the rights of persons with disabilities, providing for the ways of their guarantee and protection, which were adopted within the Council of Europe. The concept of human rights mechanisms, in particular, in the activities of regional international intergovernmental organisations, is revealed. The author demonstrates the complex multilevel nature of the European system of human rights protection, which includes special regulatory and institutional instruments. Some acts of the so-called ‘soft law’ of the Council of Europe are analysed. It is shown that the first documents of the Council of Europe in the field of the rights of persons with disabilities concerned mainly the economic rights of this category of persons. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of ensuring the required number of jobs, professional retraining and professional assessment of employees who have lost the ability to perform certain types of work. With the further improvement of human rights protection mechanisms, the Council of Europe’s strategy for ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities has also changed. Member states agreed on the importance of expanding the range of freedoms for people with disabilities. This was due to the existence of numerous barriers to access to social services, cultural life of society, diversification of leisure activities, etc. The recommendations that were subsequently adopted included provisions on the absolute prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability in such areas as education, transport, public services, political, social and cultural life of the state. The article also analyses the concept of universal design, which was introduced to ensure that the infrastructure of European countries is accessible so that every person with a disability can receive the necessary social services with minimal interference from third parties. The article examines the issue of protection of persons with disabilities from violence and ill-treatment, whether committed by relatives, healthcare professionals or third parties. The author identifies the categories of persons who are more vulnerable due to the combination of disability with certain other characteristics, such as age, gender, social status, citizenship, etc. The author reveals a new approach of the Council of Europe to ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities, which provides for the elimination of social barriers and their full integration into society.

How informal intergovernmental organizations facilitate cooptation and promote peaceful change in times of power rivalry

ABSTRACT Cooptation provides a strategy for powerful states to manage power rivalries through institutional change. It entails coopting weaker (and possibly rising) states to support the institutional order by granting them a greater say in that order. However, the ability of states to broker such arrangements depends on the willingness of rivals to be coopted and on the properties of institutions through which cooptation is pursued. In this article, I contrast the comparative efficacy of pursuing cooptation through formal intergovernmental organizations (FIGOs) such as the UN or IMF, with pursuing cooptation through informal intergovernmental organizations (IIGOs) such as the G20, which are not legalized and have no independent operational capacity. I argue that while FIGOs have a comparative advantage for managing and maintaining a prevailing institutional order through adaptation, IIGOs often offer a more propitious institutional setting for achieving peaceful transformation of an institutional order in response to power rivalry.

Intergovernmental organizations and entrepreneurship: understanding the relationship between the supranational, national, and individual level

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), such as the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Trade and Development and the World Bank, promote stability, security and development for member states and their citizens via supranational institutional influences. However, their influence on individuals, especially their entrepreneurial business activities, is unclear. As policymakers decide when more (or less) IGO involvement best serves their countries and citizens, we must better understand the connection of the supranational, national, and individual levels. Thus, we study how IGO membership influences entrepreneurial opportunities and focus on two activities that impact a country’s economy differently: formal and informal entrepreneurship. Moreover, we identify how national institutional ecologies build the bridge between the supranational and the individual level and mediate the relationships. Using a sample of 68 countries, their entrepreneurial environment, and their connection to IGOs, we find that IGO memberships enhance opportunities for entrepreneurship. Moreover, IGOs promote formal entrepreneurial activities while discouraging informal entrepreneurial activities, mediated by the country’s institutional ecology. We combine insights from international relations, institutional theory, and strategic entrepreneurship to highlight how institutions at different levels influence entrepreneurial opportunities and discuss the policy implications of our findings.

SAARC: An Overview

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1985, comprising eight South Asian nations: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan. SAARC aims to promote regional cooperation and development across various sectors, including economics, agriculture, human resources, tourism, and culture. The organization facilitates dialogue and collaboration through regular summits, where leaders discuss common challenges and opportunities. Despite facing challenges related to geopolitical tensions and bilateral issues among member countries, SAARC continues to strive towards fostering regional integration and addressing shared concerns in the South Asian region.

Learning by doing: a role theoretical approach to learning of inter-governmental organizations

ABSTRACT Inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) have proliferated since World War II and have evolved into significant social actors shaping global governance. The article contends that IGOs, through roles, contribute to the dense network of social expectations, adding a nuanced layer beyond the structural aspects of the international system. The article asserts that IGOs, confronted with changing global dynamics, engage in organizational role learning (ORL) to manage state role conflicts and contribute to international order. While existing scholarship often references roles descriptively, this article advocates for a roles-based perspective, positioning it within the social constructivist paradigm. The article introduces the concept of ORL and applies it to case studies on ASEAN and the African Union, revealing shifts in role conceptions and emphasizing the crucial role of ORL in maintaining organizational efficacy. The study contributes to understanding the intricate interplay between IGOs, their roles, and the evolving global landscape.

Exploring South Africa’s Foreign Policy Objectives in the Decolonisation of the Intergovernmental Organisations: The Case of the United Nations Security Council

The United Nations (UN), which is the largest intergovernmental organization (INGO), has a structure mainly focused on global security which is the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). South Africa, which has got Africa’s biggest economy and most politically stable, has embodied the principle of decolonisation through the Ubuntu principle. The South African government’s key foreign policy objectives seek to advance decolonisation, globally and continentally. These objectives include monitoring international developments, promoting inclusive economic growth and shared prosperity for Africa and its people, building unity, and protecting South Africa’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This study sought to explore South Africa’s foreign policy objectives in addressing decolonisation within the UNSC through reform. It employed the exploratory research design in addressing South Africa’s foreign policy objectives towards the reform of the UNSC. Furthermore, the study relied on document analysis. The findings show that the process of decolonisation within the UNSC is occurring at a very slow pace, although significant progress has been made within the African Union regarding the decolonisation agenda. The study emphasises the need for an African permanent member with veto power on the UNSC. This would allow Africa to have a strong voice in protecting its interests. The study’s findings can be used by the South African government’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to inform its foreign policy formulation. Keywords: Decolonization, Foreign Policy, South Africa, UNSC, Reform, Ubuntu

Association between gender inequality and climate adaptation across the global

Abstract Introduction Climate change has a disproportionate impact on women in comparison to men and women have a key role to play in climate adaptation. However, evidence is lacking on how gender inequalities may be associated with climate vulnerability and ability to respond at country level. Methods This ecological study investigated the association between climate adaptation, measured by the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative Country Index (ND-GAIN), and gender inequality, measured by the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) developed by the World Economic Forum and the Gender Inequality Index (GII) developed by the United Nations. Simple linear regression was used to estimate the associations between the indices and their subdomains for 146 countries. Results There was an approximately linear association between the GGGI and climate adaptation. Each 1% increase in gender equality was associated with a 0.6% increase in the ND-GAIN score (slope 0.59, 95% confidence interval [0.33 to 0.84]). This was driven by a negative association between gender equality and vulnerability (-0.41 [-0.62 to -0.20]), and a positive association between gender equality and readiness (0.77 [0.44 to 1.10]). Gender equality in the education domain of the GGGI had the strongest association with climate adaptation. There was a strong negative linear association between the GII and climate adaptation, which explained most (87%) of the between-country variation in climate adaptation. Each 1% increase in gender inequality was associated with a 0.5% decrease in the ND-GAIN score (-0.53 [-0.57 to -0.50]). The association between gender inequality and readiness was stronger than the association with vulnerability (0.40 [0.37 to 0.44] for vulnerability versus -0.67 [-0.72 to -0.61] for readiness). Conclusions Gender inequality measured broadly across different domains of life is associated with climate adaptation at country level, both in terms of vulnerability to impact and readiness to respond. Key messages • Gender inequality, considered broadly across multiple domains of life, is associated with increased vulnerability to climate change and poor readiness to respond. • Addressing gender inequality needs to be a priority for governments and inter-governmental organisations if populations worldwide are to adapt to climate change.

Large scale OECD health valuation study to estimate the economic benefits of chemical regulation

Abstract Chemical regulation aims at protecting human health and the environment from the risks of chemicals, while recognizing the economic importance of the use of chemicals. Assessment of the societal impacts of chemical regulation and different policy options requires information on both costs and benefits. So far, regulators assessing chemicals regulations has not had access to high quality and internationally comparable data on the full monetary benefit of reducing health and environmental risk. The OECD has implemented a multi-country stated preference valuation project that covers ten chemicals-related health conditions (e.g. asthma, kidney disease, infertility, etc.) with more than 80 surveys with large samples in 22 countries. The OECD Surveys on Willingness-to-Pay to Avoid Negative Chemicals-Related Health Impacts (SWACHE) project aims to establish internationally comparable values for the willingness-to-pay (WTP) to avoid negative health effects due to exposure to chemicals. The values can be used to demonstrate and measure the economic benefits of minimising the morbidity impacts of chemical regulations, environmental policies and public policies in general. The latest valuation results of the project will be presented, along with key aspects of the joint methodology used and the plans to further expand this work. In addition, the OECD is collaborating with other intergovernmental organisations via the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) to update the cost of inaction estimates for chemicals as part of the Global Framework on Chemicals. An update on this initiative, that can benefit from the results of the SWACHE project, will be provided.

Benefits of cross-border access to human genomes at scale for research and healthcare

Abstract Genomics data will soon be routinely generated and integrated into national healthcare systems. To maximise the potential of genomic medicine, data should be accessible for research where possible. This is the remit of ELIXIR, an intergovernmental organisation that brings together life science resources from across Europe. Innovative solutions are needed to ensure the validated research findings for disease or preventative medicine are then integrated into healthcare. To tackle this, the 1+MG initiative, a joint initiative of 25 EU countries, the UK, and Norway, aims to enable secure access to genomics and the corresponding clinical data across Europe for better research, personalised healthcare and health policy making. In the design and scale-up phase (B1MG project), recommendations and guidelines to advance towards the deployment of personalised medicine at a European scale have been produced, adopted by 1+MG and developed into a 1+MG framework. This includes guidance on data governance, standards, quality and infrastructure, recommendations on how to approach citizen engagement and a tool for countries to self-assess implementation into healthcare. The European Genomic Data Infrastructure (GDI) project supports the scale-up and sustainability phase of the 1+MG initiative, to deploy infrastructure across 24 countries to support the overall ambition. Recommendations are being used to promote governance and technical interoperability across European initiatives including the European Health Data Space (EHDS), and European Cancer Image Initiative (EUCAIM). The 1+MG will be established as a European Data Infrastructure Consortia in 2025 and will act as an Authorised Participant in the EHDS providing access to a permanent high-quality federated data collection of genomic and health data that will accelerate research, innovation and policymaking facilitating the deployment of genomic medicine across Europe.

Digital transformation and the future of work: closing the digital skills gap

Purpose The purpose of this article is to discuss the near future digital technology landscape and propose several specific in-demand digital skills for organizations and individuals in the next few years. Design/methodology/approach This article reviews some recent publications from representative inter-governmental, governmental, non-governmental, and commercial organizations on the rise of digital technologies and corresponding growth in digital jobs. Within this context, several specific in-demand skills are proposed by the author who has written a book on the topic of digital transformation. Findings Rapid advancements in digital technologies continue to shape organizational practices and the future of work. To take advantage of emerging digital technologies and better compete in the marketplace, organizations and individuals need to upskill and reskill. Practical implications The main purpose of this article is to suggest a list of specific digital skills for executive management and human resources professionals to help prepare employees for digital jobs in the next few years. Corporate policy makers could introduce and promote these digital skills as part of the organizations’ training and development curriculum. In the area of talent management, organizations could also formulate hiring policies and assessment mechanisms to attract, develop, and retain employees with the requisite digital skills. For information technology and business professionals seeking to upskill and reskill, they could acquire these digital skills to enhance their current roles and prepare for the future digital workplace environment. Originality/value This article contributes to a better understanding of the digital technology landscape and digital skills. A list of specific in-demand skills is proposed to help organizations and individuals close the digital skills gap.

Unusual holopelagic Sargassum mass beaching in Northwest Africa: Morphotypes, chemical composition, and potential valorisation

The rapid proliferation of holopelagic Sargassum spp. in the tropical Atlantic Ocean presents environmental challenges and economic opportunities. In 2022, Senegal witnessed its first significant holopelagic Sargassum beaching event, triggering widespread concern and interest from civil society, industrial sectors, and government. This study represents the first analysis of stranded holopelagic Sargassum's morphotypes and chemical composition in Northwest Africa. We highlight the nature of Sargassum stranding, dominated by S. fluitans III, and describe a putative new morphotype. Compared to most of the studies in the tropical Atlantic, Senegalese Sargassum displayed lower arsenic concentrations (9–29 ppm), higher cadmium levels (9–15 ppm), and increased mercury content (0.47–0.57 ppm). In addition, Senegalese Sargassum showed higher levels of iron (237–1017 ppm) and phosphorus (1300–1772 ppm). The biochemical analysis revealed high total protein levels (15–40 % DW) in Senegalese samples, though further analysis is required to confirm this. Furthermore, variations in biochemical composition within various parts of the Sargassum thallus were observed. The low arsenic content makes the beached Senegalese Sargassum attractive for valorisation and sets it apart from holopelagic Sargassum from all other regions where it occurs. However, caution should be taken regarding the high concentrations of cadmium. Our study highlights promising applications in Senegal and neighbouring countries, particularly in animal feed and agriculture. Noteworthy is the notable palladium content (2 ppm), valuable phenolic compounds, and mannitol, which present additional opportunities for the chemical industry. Our interdisciplinary approach enhances the global scientific understanding of the Sargassum issue. With the anticipation of more frequent Sargassum beaching events and, more generally, for seaweed exploitation, we advocate for inter-governmental African organisations to establish standardised norms for their exploitation. We recommend that the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization consider incorporating more seaweed in the Codex Alimentarius to facilitate their uses particularly when states deal with algal blooms.

Undersea cable security in the Indo‐Pacific: Enhancing the Quad’s collaborative approach

Undersea communication cables carry the bulk of global communications, intelligence, and financial transactions daily. They are increasingly threatened, and Australia, Japan, India, and the US have begun coordinating cable security activities in the Indo-Pacific as the Quad. This article investigates the Quad’s role in undersea cable communication security, and analyzes its motivations, strengths, and the challenges it faces thereby illuminating the Quad’s evolving position in international security and its role in global governance. In doing so, it evaluates the Quad’s significance in addressing emerging security threats in the Indo-Pacific, attempts to fill critical gaps in policy formulation, and contributes to theories of informality and global governance. It begins by outlining threats to undersea communication cables. Second, it details the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience within the context of an informal intergovernmental organization literature. Third, it provides recommendations for policy formulation in undersea cable security and explores the Quad's potential for improving connectivity, resilience, and security. Finally, the article emphasizes the need to tailor policies to India’s unique position within the Quad and explores proactive measures like floating Quad-supported cable repair ships. These recommendations offer insights for policymakers to bolster global communication infrastructure, resilience, and provide public goods amidst multipolarity and great power rivalry.

The protection of submarine cables in Southeast Asia: The security gap and challenges and opportunities for regional cooperation

This article argues that Southeast Asian states’ efforts to promote resilience on submarine cables should move beyond facilitating cable deployment and repair to encompass cooperation on the protection of submarine cables from intentional damage given recent incidents highlighting the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure. While protection of submarine cables from damage (routine or non-routine) requires a broad range of legal and policy measures taken by states, industry and other relevant stakeholders, this article focuses on intentional damage to submarine cables and the measures highlighted in the 2023 General Assembly Resolution on Oceans and Law of the Sea, namely, cooperative measures by states aimed at the detection, prevention and suppression of threats to submarine cables consisting of (1) monitoring; (2) prevention and response; (3) the enhanced sharing of information; and (4) the adoption of national laws on the prosecution of offenders. The analysis views intentional damage to submarine cables through the lens of maritime security and examines challenges and opportunities for regional cooperation between Southeast Asian states on these four measures. It also explores the role that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the primary intergovernmental organization in the region, can play in facilitating cooperation on the protection of submarine cables, and makes recommendations on areas of possible cooperation on the protection of submarine cables.

Governance of artificial intelligence in Southeast Asia

AbstractGovernance of artificial intelligence (AI) has not achieved global participation. The primary state‐led instrument focusing specifically on the global governance of artificial intelligence is the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). Although GPAI aims for broad international participation, the only GPAI member from Southeast Asia is Singapore. GPAI's imbalanced global participation, restrictive membership process, and limited translations are potential barriers to Southeast Asian participation. However, a comparative policy analysis suggests that GPAI members and nonmembers in Southeast Asia have AI governance policies which are largely compatible, despite key differences. This study uses quantitative topic‐modeling and qualitative content analysis to compare the AI governance policies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam with the policies of Australia and Singapore, as reference GPAI members. The policies of GPAI, Australia, and Singapore emphasise the function of ethics while the policies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam emphasise the function of human capital development. State‐led, global AI governance efforts could attract more Southeast Asian participation by further emphasising human capital development and deemphasising the function of ethics. GPAI could increase the likelihood of Southeast Asian participation by decreasing its emphasis on political systems, allowing intergovernmental organisations to join, and recruiting all G20 members.

Транстихоокеанское партнерство и всестороннее региональное экономическое партнерство как международно-правовая модель экономической интеграции в Азиатско-Тихоокеанском регионе

The article explores international law aspects of the contemporary integration processes in the Asia-Pacific with a specific focus on such relatively new formationsas the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Based on the WTO law provisions with regard to the free trade areas for goods and services, both Partnerships significantly widen the scope of regulated inter-governmental relationships, which allows considering the TPP and the RCEP as a fundamentally new form of the regional trade agreements. Having a fixed number of participating states and a system of institution with their functions and competencies, the Partnerships do not represent inter-governmental organizations and are vested with no legal capacity or, especially, supranational powers. However, this does not undermine the trade and economic significance of the Partnerships while also making them an attractive model of the soft integration structure between the states having different level of economic development, located in different geographical regions and bound with their own integration obligations under bi- and multilateral (subregional) trade agreements. The founding agreements of the Partnerships are typical “WTO plus” arrangements combining the provisions on liberalization of trade in goods and services with the parties’ mutual obligations in the fields of investments, sustainable development, competition, administrative and legal cooperation. At the same time, applicability of parallel bi- and multilateral trade agreements between the Asia-Pacific states, including those within ASEAN, forms a complex multilayer regulation of foreign trade and entails a risk of legal uncertainty for economic operators.

Advancing gender equality in international ocean science: Participatory approaches for institutional actions

Gender inequality in international marine and ocean science is an ongoing barrier to ocean governance sustainability goals and requires systemic institutional transformation. Examining how participatory approaches can be applied at international level and contribute to advancing a gender equality agenda can help identify pathways for change. This study uses a timeline of a feminist participatory action research (FPAR) to explore its application within the International Council of the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), working with its community of marine science professionals, to advance gender equality. By documenting and mapping formal and informal actions against a theory of change, the research reveals that stages of awareness, understanding, and action are dynamic and overlap. Despite varying degrees of short-term acceptance and resistance, ongoing community engagement, monitoring, and evaluation is essential for fostering longer-term change. The analysis demonstrates how FPAR can be applied in an intergovernmental organization, with multiple factors, including drivers, data collection, co-creation through dialogue, and specific actions contributing to driving a change agenda and the formulation and publication of a gender equality plan for the organization. The results demonstrate that meaningful actions can occur at various scales, with participatory engagement as central. The results provide evidence of how gender equality as a global meta-norm is diffused into practice and are discussed in the context of the limitations of formal gender equality plans to realize change.

Risks of Institutionalization of the Central Asia-China Format for Solidarity and Political Trust in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The article considers the risks of institutionalizing the format of the Central Asia-China dialogue («C+C5») for solidarity and mutual political trust within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). According to the documents, institutionalization is aimed at transforming the «C+C5» format into a full-fledged international intergovernmental organization with functions that duplicate the existing ones within the SCO. In the current official documents, Russia declares the importance of SCO development and assigns it a special role in the implementation of the «Turn to the East» Policy, the development of the «Greater Eurasian Partnership », and the deployment of the project of «the North-South International Transport Corridor». In this regard, further institutionalization of the «C+C5» format may create restrictions for the realization of these Russian plans and even for the protection of interests in the Central Asian region (CAR). This circumstance, coupled with the active attempts of the West and the United States to force a number of CAR countries to refuse Russia’s assistance in circumventing the sanctions regime is unlikely to be understood in Moscow. This means that it is necessary to think about the ways to overcome the likely limitations by deepening the dialogue with China on the issues of further development of the SCO and increasing its effectiveness. The plans to institutionalize the «C+C5» format may also cause increased opposition from other major global «players» such as the United States, India, the EU and Japan, which have been actively involved in Central Asian Affairs in recent years, developing formats for dialogue between «1 + C5» (CAR countries).