International Community Research Articles

Tourists’ ethically responsible participation in animal-based tourism: A configurational impact assessment

Ethical concerns about animal-based tourism are raising ongoing attention from the international community, and investigation of tourists’ ethically responsible behaviors in animal eco-tourism is limited. This study investigated the formation of ethically responsible behaviors by integrating constituents from the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory, the norm-activation model (NAM), and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), including biospheric value, altruistic value, ethical beliefs, awareness of ethical issues, ascribed responsibility, personal norm, attitude, social norm, and behavioral intentions with regard to animal-based tourism. The cultural involvement of Confucian harmony and media coverage were found to positively influence awareness of ethical issues. The proposed research framework was further optimized by identifying a moderator, described as perceptions of animal protection. Methodologically, along with structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, this study also used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to evaluate asymmetric configurations (causal recipes) and necessary conditions for predicting different levels of behavioral intentions in animal-based tourism.

Promotion of ecotourism and communication policy in increasing tourists in Indonesia

This article aims to analyze the form of promotion and its policies in increasing tourists in Indonesia. Ecotourism is one of the nation’s vital sectors that can improve the economy, preserve nature and introduce local culture. Sadly, today, ecotourism has yet to be discovered by the public, which cumulatively causes much damage. Therefore, The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is tasked with educating the public in order to create a collaborative synergy. This article uses qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. The primary data sources in this study are Twitter netizens’ tweets and The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy ‘s social media accounts. At the same time, the secondary data used in this study are articles, books, and reportage. Then the data will be analyzed through several procedures, namely, 1) data matrix, 2) data reduction, 3) coding, and 4) conclusion drawing. The results showed that the messages conveyed by The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy regarding ecotourism were good, and the intensity was relatively high. Public conversations about ecotourism have also been substantive in accordance with ideal ecotourism. Unfortunately, the intensity of The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy ‘s message is not accompanied by the intensity of ecotourism conversations in the community. However, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has issued a communication policy in promoting ecotourism in Indonesia. This aims to benefit the wider community, such as community productivity, economic improvement, and the introduction of local culture to the international community.

Overlap between priority conservation areas and natural assets appeals to a shared responsibility for global primate conservation

Expanding protected areas (PAs) coverage to match countries’ conservation responsibility is vital to stemming global biodiversity loss. Uneven biodiversity distribution and conservation responsibility among countries pose challenges to the implementation of conservation targets, and currently diminish conservation effectiveness. Using primates as a global model, we evaluated the conservation responsibility of countries to assess if their PA coverage adequately meets their conservation responsibility. We quantified spatial national responsibility for primate species conservation in each country from their range size of priority conservation areas (PCAs) and protected areas coverage on PCAs. We identified the high-responsibility countries for global primate conservation as countries that held > 1 % of global PCAs. We paid particular attention to the circumstances associated with PCAs in the least developed countries, especially the overlap between PCAs and the areas containing natural assets (natural assets areas). Seventeen countries were identified as high-responsibility countries that in total covered 84 % area of global PCAs. Current protected areas only covered less than 50 % of PCAs for fifteen of these high-responsibility countries. Among these fifteen countries, four countries (DR Congo, PA coverage: 19 %; Myanmar, 9 %; Madagascar, 29 %; Laos, 22 %) were the least developed countries. Most existing PCAs (95 %; SD 6 %) in these 17 countries are located within natural assets areas, which creates tension between primate conservation and local development. Global primate conservation is a shared responsibility among the international community. Developing countries have greater responsibility than most because of the overlapping of their PCAs with natural assets areas. For developing countries to fulfill their conservation responsibilities requires international conservation resources (funding support and cooperation). Protected areas expansion has to be matched with a realizable target for each country to avoid crippling conflicts between conservation and local development. Community-based management models, including other effective area-based conservation measures, may reduce potential conflict and improve conservation effectiveness.

A Critical Analysis of Challenges and Prospects of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Zambia-A Case Study of Lusaka District

Zambia’s National Health Insurance (NHI) was established by the enactment of the NHI Act No. 2 of 2018 and supported by statutory instrument No. 63 of 2019 which led to the establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) under the management of the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA). The goal of the NHIS was to guarantee the provision of universal health insurance coverage for all residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status. As one of the prospective financing solutions for protecting populations from high health care service prices, NHIS is receiving increased attention from the international community. This study set out to investigate the difficulties and opportunities that the plan faces from the standpoint of the service providers and subscribers in Lusaka, Zambia. The study used the descriptive research design since it seeks to analyze the prospects and challenges of the national health insurance scheme in Lusaka, Zambia. The study came to a conclusion that in Lusaka, Zambia, consumers who wish to utilize the NHIS plan face challenges related to health literacy and awareness, fraud, and corruption, as well as, subpar service quality. The survey also discovered that consumers in Lusaka have difficulties with enrolment and registration while attempting to use the NHIS program due to intermittent availability and constant breakdown of the NHIMA system. The study further came to conclude that some of the prospects for the NHIS plan in Lusaka is public knowledge and involvement, enhancing monitoring and evaluation of the private and public health facilities accredited with NHIMA and improving the internet connectivity of the NHIMA system to enhance service delivery.

ინოვაციის კონფლიქტთა მეტაკოგნიტიური მართვის შესაძლებლობები

The article describes innovation and its different essences, concepts, and categories. It also discusses the different roles and functional purposes of innovators. Therefore, a distinction was made between innovative and non-innovative issues. Based on this, innovative and innovative conflicts were also distinguished. Special attention is focused on cognitive defects in discourse. Representatives of different fields of science play a role not only in creating innovations but also in the service of innovative processes. Situated at the intersection of cognition, innovation, and conflict management, this work is relevant to various sectors within the national economy—government, business, and civil society—and is of considerable interest to the international scientific community.

Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Changes in Cropland Occupation and Supplementation Area in the Pearl River Delta and Their Impacts on Carbon Storage

In recent years, the “dual carbon” issue has become a major focus of the international community. Changes in land use driven by anthropogenic activities have a profound impact on ecosystem structure and carbon cycling. This study quantitatively assesses the spatiotemporal changes in cropland occupation and supplementation in the Pearl River Delta from 2000 to 2020 using the InVEST model, analyzing the spatial clustering of carbon storage changes caused by variations in cropland area. The PLUS model was employed to simulate land-use patterns and the spatial distribution of carbon storage in four future development scenarios. The results indicate the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the net change rate of cropland area in the Pearl River Delta was −0.81%, with a decrease of 16.49 km2 in cropland area, primarily converted to built-up land and forest land. (2) Carbon storage in the Pearl River Delta exhibited a pattern of lower values in the center and higher values in the periphery. The terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage in the Pearl River Delta was 534.62 × 106 t in 2000, 518.60 × 106 t in 2010, and 512.57 × 106 t in 2020, showing an overall decreasing trend. The conversion of cropland and forest land was the main reason for the decline in total regional carbon storage. (3) The area of carbon sequestration lost due to cropland occupation was significantly greater than the area of carbon loss compensated by new cropland, indicating an imbalance in the quality of cropland occupation and supplementation as a crucial factor contributing to regional carbon loss. (4) Under the ecological priority scenario, the expansion of built-up land and the reduction in ecological land such as cropland and forest land were effectively controlled, resulting in the minimal loss of carbon storage. The soil organic carbon pool of cropland is the most active carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems and has a significant impact on carbon storage. Clarifying the relationship between “cropland protection measures–land use changes–ecosystem carbon storage” will improve cropland protection policies, provide references for regional carbon sequestration enhancement, and support sustainable socio-economic development.

Surgical treatment of isolated tricuspid valve disease: indications, new evidence, and risk stratification

The tricuspid valve, long neglected as a passive structure and often termed the "forgotten valve", has recently gained attention from the international medical and cardiological community due to the association of tricuspid regurgitation with an unfavorable prognosis. Isolated tricuspid regurgitation represents a relatively unknown and variable condition, closely linked to the shape and function of the right ventricle and the state of the pulmonary circulation. Currently, guidelines are not clear regarding the optimal treatment strategy, the process of patient selection, and the surgical or transcatheter procedural timing, nor for predicting patient outcomes. Surgical procedures specifically aimed at correcting isolated tricuspid regurgitation, without other concomitant indications for open-heart surgery, have been considered complex and risky, with a high rate of postoperative complications and a poorly understood impact on patient survival and life expectancy. In this review, we will attempt to examine tricuspid valve pathology by analyzing preoperative assessment, essential for risk stratification, various surgical techniques, and outcomes.

Vietnam’s Legal Framework on Reducing Plastic Waste Towards a Global Treaty

Since the turn of the century, the number of plastics produced worldwide has doubled, and as of 2021, it was close to 400 million metric tons annually. Currently, over 350 million metric tons of plastic trash are produced annually by humans. 1 Plastic waste has become so widespread that UN negotiations are underway to draft an international treaty. Particularly Vietnam, where on average, about 1.8 million tons of plastic waste is generated each year, including more than 30 billion nylon bags, 2 is aware of the importance of preventing and minimizing plastic waste. Vietnam has recently implemented a number of solutions utilizing targeted actions and policy mechanisms, such as enacting the 2020 Law on Environment Protection with content related to plastic waste, the Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Marine Economy in parallel with protecting the environment and marine ecosystem, and the National Action Plan for the Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030. Besides, Vietnam has proactively and aggressively participated in building and accompanying the international community in developing a Global Agreement Framework to address plastic pollution and ocean plastic waste. This article examines Vietnam’s legal framework on plastic waste reduction toward global commitments. Based on the analyses, recommendations are provided to strengthen Vietnam’s legal system to prevent pollution caused by plastic waste.

Legality and Legitimacy of Humanitarian Intervention

"Humanitarian intervention" has been a controversial topic in the international community. Some scholars believe that humanitarian intervention has legitimacy, as it can avoid extreme situations such as large-scale genocide, and can protect human rights and save lives. However, there are other scholars who have expressed some disagreement with them and question humanitarian intervention. They believe that the essence of humanitarian intervention is hegemonism, especially in the Kosovo and Iraq incidents, which use humanitarian intervention as an excuse for war. Although the United Nations has relevant regulations on humanitarian intervention, the binding force for superpowers is relatively lacking. In this condition, this article explores humanitarian intervention by consulting relevant literature and combining humanitarian intervention events, and analyzes the complexity of humanitarian intervention in the international community.

Framing the European Rare Diseases field through a structured movement of patient organisations

EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe is an alliance of patient organisations, working across countries, empowering patients with trainings, and generating evidence through surveys. It advocates for the needs of people living with rare diseases in Europe, influencing policy, legislation, research, healthcare services, social inclusion, medicines development and access. Since its creation, EURORDIS has maintained a global perspective. By nature of the rarity of these conditions, knowledge and expertise are scattered, so collaboration on a global level is required to have an understanding of disease progression. Thus, every rare disease patient group must be equipped to collaborate beyond its own borders. EURORDIS impacts global activities with a focus on raising awareness; empowering a global alliance; supporting international, national and regional initiatives; and recognising rare diseases within the international community while fostering collaboration among stakeholders. For these reasons, the organisation’s impact extends beyond Europe, as demonstrated by its international partnerships. This perspective paper explores EURORDIS’ achievements over two decades, examining its role in shaping policies and regulations, to demonstrate the vital importance of global collaboration in the rare disease field. Looking ahead, EURORDIS’ Strategic Goals, to be achieved by 2030, align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030 and advocate for a European Action Plan for Rare Diseases. This illustrates EURORDIS’ continued commitment to transforming policies into tangible outcomes. With its ongoing dedication, collaborative efforts, and enduring impact on the rare disease community, EURORDIS remains a driving force for positive change in the lives of people living with rare diseases.

The International Law Dilemma of Autonomous Weapon System

This paper aims to highlight the potential for serious humanitarian disasters caused by the rapid development of autonomous weapons systems, as they are currently unable to fully grasp the ability to analyze their targets and clearly distinguish between combatants and military targets due to current technological limitations. There is also controversy over whether autonomous weapons systems are combatants, and there is a certain degree of regulatory deficiencies in the field of international law. Existing international treaties are unable to perfectly regulate autonomous weapons systems and punish unlawful behavior. The paper mainly uses the method of analyzing specific problems based on legal principles and draws conclusions by referring to some cases. The conclusion of this paper is that the international community needs to establish a new, targeted international legal treaty, establish a more reasonable and realistic international soft law, establish and improve a broader international exchange system, and encourage countries to work together to solve this problem.

Strengthening Global Security: Critique on the NPT and NSG Mechanisms of Nuclear Export Control Regime

An export control regime plays a vital tool in the effort to counter the proliferation of traditional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. However, there are new and fundamental challenges with this system. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding and implementing nuclear export control mechanisms to advance international security and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The research will apply descriptive analysis of the mechanisms of nuclear export controls. Critical analysis of the nuclear export control apparatuses will be applied as a technique to review the loopholes in the enforcement mechanisms of these initiatives. The debate covers key aspects of nuclear export control, including legislative frameworks, industry compliance, licensing and authorization procedures, verification and monitoring systems and control scope. Understanding these elements will enable stakeholders to support responsible and peaceful transfers of nuclear technology while ensuring compliance with international commitments and nonproliferation standards. The paper further delves into the context of these regimes, which are constructed in a way that provides cushion to the international community led by the Western states. The article emphasizes the critical role of the mechanisms of nuclear export control in preserving international security by preventing the unauthorized transfer of sensitive nuclear materials and technology. It also emphasizes the need for industry and national collaboration in this regard.

The Use of Force by the Russian Federation in Ukraine

The Russian-Ukrainian War has significantly impacted the international community, making it crucial to examine the war responsibility of all parties involved under international law. Through this paper, we aim to prove the illegality of Russia's argument and exercise the right of pre-emptive self-defense. To achieve this, we propose a new set of elements that can be used to judge pre-emptive self-defense more clearly. In light of the illegality of Russia's actions and the ICC's background, we further seek to determine both Russia's national responsibility and the individual responsibility of the war initiators. Our paper also offers a potentially effective arrest plan that involves coordination with specific international organizations and subjects. However, given the ongoing dispute around humanitarian intervention by the United States, humanitarian intervention must play a crucial role in the Russo-Ukraine war. The paper demonstrates the legal basis and necessity of humanitarian intervention in the current situation.

Biodiversity reporting by United Kingdom (UK)‐listed companies: A review of extent, content and readability of disclosures

AbstractThis study examines biodiversity reporting by UK‐listed companies. An instrument is developed, based on earlier research, and used to analyse biodiversity‐related disclosures as either policy considerations or actions taken to conserve biodiversity. A mixed design is employed. The extent of reporting, information content of disclosures and their readability are used to provide an overarching perspective on how firms internalise biodiversity. Outliers are identified and their reports are examined interpretively to identify how leading reporters understand biodiversity as a policy imperative and factor it into their operational and managerial performances. This qualitative analysis highlights best practices that can be used by other entities interested in developing the accounting and management infrastructure necessary for reporting comprehensively on biodiversity. Best practices are, however, isolated and stand in stark contrast with how organisations are dealing with biodiversity on average. At the policy level, there is little on how biodiversity is defined and the rationale for wanting to protect biodiversity. When it comes to performance, few organisations are setting detailed biodiversity‐related targets linked clearly to operational plans, risk assessments and key performance indicators. Post‐implementation reviews of conservation initiatives are seldom conducted and biodiversity is not being factored into valuations, cost assessments and project appraisals. Understanding these limitations is timely given the international community's recent efforts to develop standards for extra‐financial reporting. The results will be relevant for regulators, scholars and practitioners interested in advancing the quality of biodiversity reporting and factoring biodiversity into mainstream business discourses.

Representation of Turkish Identity and Norms in the Media: 2020 Karabakh War

The Nagorno-Karabakh issue between Azerbaijan and Armenia became one of the most critical agenda items in the international community again in 2020, resulting in thousands of casualties from both countries due to the conflicts. This study discusses Türkiye’s attitude towards the 2020 Karabakh War in the context of international relations, based on the constructivist theory. It focuses on explaining how the country’s national identity, as well as the international norms it adheres to, played a decisive role in its current foreign policy implementation. To do this, news articles related to the 2020 Karabakh War were gathered from Turkish and Azerbaijani news portals and subjected to content analysis. The analysis findings revealed that both Turkish and Azerbaijani media heavily emphasized messages related to shared identities and norms that play a significant role in shaping the perception and identities of the parties involved in the conflict. Furthermore, the media depicted the war as a matter of national identity and sovereignty.

Doctoral students’ season schools

Part of the work of universities worldwide is to train new doctors who can meet current and future challenges and who have the knowledge and skills required in academic life. There are many ways to achieve these goals, and it is necessary to explore these avenues. For the last decades, a diversity of spaces for learning and networking beyond formal ones has been provided to doctoral students. International seasonal schools, intensive programs, international writing retreats, international research communities of practice, and international seminar groups, among others, have been learning opportunities where students have the opportunity to discuss their work with peers, mentors and teachers. These learning spaces are organised by various facilitators such as universities, scientific associations, and researchers who usually focus on the same topic. In many cases, those experiences became even more relevant during the pandemic, keeping some of those activities in online environments with a significant role as a supportive network for social isolation (Cullinane et al., 2022). Now that the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have been lowered in most countries of the world and people seem to be craving to meet other people once again face-to-face, it is reasonable to assume that participating in these learning opportunities will become even more popular.

Which Legitimization for de facto States? The Case of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq

ABSTRACT Within the main framework of Pegg’s de facto states, this article deals with the de facto state phenomenon and presents a case study of the position of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG) in order to explore its legitimacy-seeking policies and implications. De facto states are internationally engaged but unrecognized entities in the international community. However, their standing and legitimacy policies draw the attention of world states because of their varying impacts on global security and the transnational challenges they present. In such a context, this article elaborates on the KRG’s legitimacy-seeking position with respect to security/stability and democracy/pluralist society in the light of its relations with Iraq, the wider Middle East and the international community.

The Inaction of International Organizations in Times of War

The role of international organizations in wartime has attracted much attention. However, despite the existence of international organizations, there are still many wars and conflicts in the international community. This article explores the limitations of international organizations and the reasons for the inaction of international organizations during wartime, including international law, the political will of member states, and the ability to act. This article will start from a historical perspective, review the establishment of some early international organizations, the development of international law and its role, and then analyze the role of the United Nations as a modern international organization in depth. This article will further examine how international organizations should play a more active role in the conflict by comparing it to a successful case of international organizations in conflict resolution - the Sudan and Ethiopia conflicts. Finally, this article will discuss some possible solutions to improve the role of international organizations in wartime.

Misunderstanding Equality, Power, and Vulnerability: Elevating the Individual over Cohesion in Hierarchy as a Value

Abstract This article explores dominant ideas of value at play in a critical incident experienced by international mission candidates on a team placement, in an Anglican community of the United Kingdom. The ethnographic analysis will compare different perspectives on how misunderstanding cultural values and social relations as theological obligations can lead to suffering. Thus, the study shows how qualitative differences in cultural values and social relations determine contrary ways of understanding theological conceptualizations of equality as a Christian idea in contact zones of international mission communities. The analysis challenges two Christian assumptions: firstly, that extending equal value to people before God is universally understood in the same way, and secondly, that individual well-being is inherently superior to ensuring social cohesion, exemplified by Korean hierarchy. Although people realize hierarchy and individualism the world over, the nuances of meaning dominating their relations to other values determine why and how people experience suffering.

How does implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) affect economic growth? Evidence from developing countries

Although there is no consensus on the relationship between natural resource abundance and economic growth, much of the economic literature suggests that natural resource abundance negatively affects economic growth in developing countries, leading to the resource curse theory. This situation led the international community to create the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2003 to promote the effective contribution of natural resources to economic growth through a process involving governments, extractive industries, and civil society. Considering 99 developing countries from 1995 to 2019 and applying recent heterogeneity-robust difference-in-differences (DID) estimators, we find a positive and statistically significant relationship between EITI implementation and economic growth. Several robustness checks support this result. Most interestingly, the analysis of EITI’s dynamic effects reveals that these effects occur only in the short and medium terms. In addition, we tested several potential transmission channels and identified the increase in foreign direct investment and the rise in resource revenue as the main transmission channels. Moreover, we postulate and investigate four possible explanations behind the EITI’s mixed results on long-term growth: the lack of evidence of a negative relationship between natural resource abundance and long-term economic growth over the study period, a possible increasing reliance on non-resource taxes, a possible signaling effect targeted by member countries, and the lack of effect of EITI implementation on reducing corruption. Finally, the document provides economic policy recommendations for better governance in the management of natural resources in order to increase their contribution to development financing. Furthermore, improving governance in managing critical minerals is vital to avoid a “new curse of critical minerals”.