International Governance Research Articles

FORMATION OF THE INCOME PART OF THE STATE BUDGET OF UKRAINE UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE MARITAL STATE

The article describes the peculiarities of the implementation of the state budget on revenues during the period of martial law. The problems caused by russia's armed aggression in relation to Ukraine’s budget policy are outlined. It has been found that in fact, the need for financial assistance is provoked by the growth of the military expenses, since the revenue part of the budget is approximately the same as the expenses for the Ministry of Defense alone. The structure of losses in the economy and trends in GDP changes are analyzed. It is noted that in the general the picture of the economy of our country, state expenditures occupy an increasingly large volume. As in the previous year, the largest item of budget expenditures in 2023 is security and defense; at the same time, expenditures directed at it compared to the pre-war period have increased almost tenfold. The structure of the economy for 2022-2023 has undergone significant changes, the share of industries with a high tax rate has decreased, which negatively affects the level of tax payments from the economy. It was revealed that in 2023, as a result of the policy of the National Bank of Ukraine (hereinafter – NBU), aimed at maintaining a relatively high discount rate, the profits of the banking system exceeded pre-war indicators several times, which allowed it to obtain a significant positive financial result. It was noted that a significant part of the state budget revenues was earned by the fuel and energy sector, which, despite the war, continues to be a successful component of Ukraine's economy. When forecasting the revenues of the state budget, one should take into account the high degree of uncertainty and unpredictability, which affects the high probability of deviation of the actual figures of the estimate from the planned ones. The main key risks can be called the continuation of the war and the uncertainty regarding the further ways of its development, non-return of refugees from abroad, insufficiently fast implementation of the reforms; lack of assistance from international organizations and governments. The latter is not a convention, but a fact, because the key source of income in 2024 will be external borrowing, since the country's own resources (tax and non-tax revenues, transfers) should be enough to finance only half of the expenses. In fact, the need for financial assistance is provoked by the growth of military expenses, and the budget is written in the form of loans.

Some Selected Secondary School Students Perception of the Quality of PGDE Teachers Trained by National Teachers Institute

This study samples the Perception of Secondary School Students on the quality of PGDE Teachers produced through National Teachers Institute (NTI) of Nigeria program. The study was guided by four hypothesis and three research questions. Stratified random sampling technique was adopted in selecting a sample of 100 Secondary School Students from National Mathematical Centre International Model Science Academy and Government Secondary School Hajj camp. Questionaire containing sixteen items was used to elicit information. The data collected was analysed. The findings were PGDE Teachers produced through NTI program are competent in the general studies aspect of education, competent in their area of specialisation and in the professional aspect of teacher education. Some gray areas were identified in the general studies aspect of education and recommendations were made on how to improve NTI program generally.

Assessing Teachers' Training Needs for Inclusive Education: A Qualitative Study of Teachers' Perception

Despite numerous interventions from the national and international governments and NGOs, the provision of education for children with individual needs has always been a challenge in Pakistan. Including children with particular needs in the regular education system is the first step towards achieving the target of a hundred per cent literacy rate. To achieve the target, teachers need to assess the training needs of including all the children with diverse needs. The current study comprises seven elements, including awareness, collaboration/relationship, curriculum, assessment, instructions, in-class support, and professional training (Jardí et al., 2021; Minondo et al., 2001). The phenomenology research design was used in this study to illustrate the training needs and get similar and contrasting patterns from responses of the four cases. Findings from all four participants demonstrated that teachers have a perception of commitment and high determination about inclusion. Still, there is a need for training teachers to differentiate according to the student's individual needs. All the participants were enthusiastic to include all the children with individual needs.

A study on textile microfiber contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of Merluccius merluccius samples from the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The increased demand and consumption of synthetic textiles have contributed to microplastic pollution in the form of microfibers. These particles are widely spread in the aquatic environment, leading to the exposure of marine biota, including edible species. The current study aimed to assess the extent of microfiber contamination in a commercially relevant fish species, Merluccius merluccius, which is considered a small-scale bioindicator for the monitoring of plastic ingestion in the Mediterranean coastal environment. The frequency of ingestion, abundance, and composition of textile microfibers isolated from the fish gut were characterized. Results showed the occurrence of microfibers in 75% of the samples, with a mean number of 10.6 microfibers/individual, of which 70% were classified as natural microfibers. The spectroscopic analyses confirmed both the visual identification of microfibers and the prevalence of cellulosic fibers. The obtained findings provided evidence of both natural/artificial and synthetic microfiber exposure in an important commercial fish species that, considering the consumption of small individuals without being eviscerated, may be a potential route of microfiber exposure in humans. Monitoring programs for fishery products from markets are needed to assess contamination levels and human health risks. In addition, measures to control microfiber pollution need to occur at multiple levels, from textile industries to international governments.

External power dynamics and international climate governance in a crises-constrained world

ABSTRACT This paper explores equity in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations during a time of multiple overlapping global crises. Drawing on a combination of semi-structured interviews and a roundtable with key negotiators and observers engaged in the UNFCCC process during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a collaborative ethnographic study and social media analysis on the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), we find that inequities within the UNFCCC process reflect the broader social and geopolitical inequities at international and intranational levels. Multiple intersecting crises reinforce and compound these inequities for particularly marginalized and vulnerable groups and slow progress in tackling climate change in an equitable manner. Applying a critical climate justice lens, we show that in order for the climate negotiations to be resilient to global crises, the process needs to go beyond a surface-level attempt at achieving justice through representation and move towards a more active shifting of power to poor and climate-vulnerable countries and populations.

ANALYZE THE IMPACT OF RISING COUNTRIES IN THE PRESENT GLOBAL CONTEXT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY AMONG CHINA BRAZIL AND INDIA

The US and other highly industrialized states' long-standing domination in the global economy is under challenge from the rise of developing economies like China, India, and Brazil. The global economy is evolving. At the same time, changes have been made to a number of international governance organizations to enhance the major growing economies represented. This article looks at the World Trade Organization, a key structure in the international regulation of trade, and the contributions and impact that Brazil, India, and China have had inside it. These shifts in power, which the rising nations are really influencing greatly, have resulted in the breakdown of multilateralism and the stillbirth of neoliberals at the WTO. There is now a battle between the new and old powers, despite the fact that the new powers are opposing US hegemony rather than the WTO's neoliberal worldview.

The Application of AI and Computer Science in the Context of International Law and Governance “Opportunities and Challenges”

Purpose: The purpose of "Governing Artificial Intelligence: Ethical, Legal, and Technical Opportunities and Challenges" is to examine the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on various societal aspects and to underscore its potential benefits for human rights, social welfare, and economic growth. The essay emphasizes the necessity of regulating AI systems in a fair, transparent, and responsible manner, especially in high-risk sectors.
 Materials and Methods: Research Design: The essay employs a literature review and analysis approach to explore the ethical, legal, and technical challenges associated with governing AI.
 Method of Data Collection: Data collection primarily involves gathering information from existing literature, reports, and expert opinions. Analysis and Presentation: The data is analyzed qualitatively to provide insights into the complexities of AI governance. The findings are presented systematically to address different dimensions of the topic.
 Findings: The essay presents a comprehensive analysis of the ethical, legal-regulatory, and technological challenges in governing AI. It highlights the need for robust governance frameworks to ensure the responsible development and deployment of AI systems.
 Implication to Theory, Practice, and Policy: The study is informed by various theories on ethics, governance, and technology. Validation of these theories is achieved through a critical examination of existing literature and empirical evidence. Practitioners are recommended to adopt principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability in the development and deployment of AI systems. Additionally, continuous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms should be established to ensure compliance with ethical standards. Policymakers are encouraged to enact regulations that promote the ethical and responsible use of AI technologies. This includes establishing clear guidelines for AI development, deployment, and accountability mechanisms to address potential risks and ensure societal well-being.

From party politics to governing instruments: an analysis of letters of allocation to the Norwegian and Swedish heritage agencies

ABSTRACT Over the last decade, heritage researchers have investigated the relationship between heritage and politics from various theoretical, methodological, and disciplinary angles. While much of this research has focused on international heritage governance, the results have highlighted that we need to reexamine the relationship between heritage organizations and politics at national level. Yet few studies have looked at the instruments used to transact authority between the political level of government and the state agencies that coordinate national heritage sectors. This article examines this relationship in Sweden and Norway. By intertextually analysing governing parties’ political programs and ‘letters of allocation’ issued from the government to heritage agencies, combined with a survey on the perceptions of civil servants, we show how these letters can serve as policy space where transactional authority can be practiced. The genre and political signals in the letters indicate that heritage governance in Norway is more politically responsive than in Sweden, and that governance reform is more successfully transacted through this governing instrument than heritage polices.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 among healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey from Kiambu County, Kenya.

The knowledge possessed by healthcare workers (HCWs), along with their attitudes and practices play a vital role in effectively managing a pandemic. This is crucial considering that HCWs are exposed to great risk at the forefront of such crises. We aimed to describe the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kiambu county, Kenya. A cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire was conducted from 11th March 2021 to 12th August 2021. Bloom's cutoff points were used to determine KAP scores (>80%: good, 60-79%: medium and <60% poor). Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses were conducted, calculating adjusted odds ratios (AOR) at a 95% confidence interval. Spearman's rank correlations were used to examine the relationship between KAP scores. 438 HCWs participated in the study, majority of whom were female (64.5%), had obtained a diploma (59.6%) and were informed through government websites (78.6%). 43.0% had good knowledge, 17.5% good attitudes, and 68.4% good practice. 23.0% had medium knowledge, 35.6% medium attitude, 15.7% medium practice, while 34.0% had poor knowledge, 46.9% poor attitude and 15.9% poor practice. Only 68.9% of the caregivers correctly recognized the county's COVID-19 isolation centre and only 7.9% chose the two correct documents for the entry of data for a suspected COVID-19 case. Furthermore, the general attitude towards their own personal safety and their training regarding PPEs (17.8% and 23.8% strongly agreed with the contrary) were less compelling. There was a significant positive association between obtaining information from international government sites [AOR: 1.382 (1.058-1.807); p = 0.0178)] and good knowledge. Referring to local government sites for information regarding COVID-19 produced better attitudes [AOR: 1.710 (1.194-2.465); p = 0.0036] and produced almost twice the odds of having better practice [AOR: 1.800 (1.181-2.681); p = 0.0048]. There was a significant correlation between knowledge and practice (r = -0.330, p = 2.766×10-11), and knowledge and attitude (r = -0.154, p = 6.538×10-3). This study emphasizes the substantial impact that governing bodies have on shaping favorable KAP. As a result, it's crucial for local government platforms to prioritize the dissemination of up-to-date information that aligns with international standards. This information should be tailored to the specific region, focusing on addressing deficiencies in healthcare practices and patient management. The identification of a significant number of HCWs lacking confidence in managing COVID-19 patients and feeling unprotected underscores a clear need for improvement in their understanding and implementation of preventive measures. This gap can be bridged by adequately equipping HCWs with locally manufactured PPEs. This aspect is crucial for pandemic preparedness, and we further advocate for the creation of a locally produced repository of medical equipment. These actions are pivotal in improving future crisis management capabilities.

Enhancing the Rights of Protection-Seeking Migrants through the Global Compact for Migration: The Case of EU Asylum Policy

Abstract This article argues that the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) is not only a breakthrough for a rights-based approach in international migration governance but also an asset to the international protection system. By way of example, three key issues of the European Union’s (EU) Common European Asylum System are discussed: access to protection, reception conditions, and detention. These examples illustrate that faithfully implementing the Migration Compact would require the EU and its Member States to make significant changes in their asylum policy. The parallel emergence of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) may suggest otherwise – namely, that the GCM is not relevant for refugees and other protection-seeking migrants. However, the legal construction that best serves the object and purpose of both documents is the assumption that the two Compacts have an overlapping scope of application. The GCM addresses specific protection needs of protection-seeking migrants who are not covered by the 1951 Refugee Convention, and it serves as an umbrella, strengthening the core human rights of migrants regardless of their status, including protection-seeking migrants. Hence, the GCM improves the international protection system as a whole and should be acknowledged as such.

Let Us Get Regional: Exploring Prospects for Biomass-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal on the Ground

In recent years, research on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) has significantly increased. Numerous studies have analyzed demonstration projects, outlined scenarios, modeled pathways, or focused on CDR’s national or international governance. However, regional case studies investigating the dynamics that may facilitate or impede the broader adoption of CDR methods in spatially explicit settings are critically absent. Understanding implementation contexts on the ground is vital, and comparing them across different removal methods is essential for effectively scaling up CDR. This paper aims to address this research gap by comparatively examining the development of biomass-based CDR in three regions of Germany. Taking an exploratory approach, we conducted surveys in these regions to gain insight into stakeholder perceptions of the following six CDR methods: forest management, agriculture and soil carbon, long-lasting building materials, rewetting of peatlands and paludiculture, biochar, and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. In this article, we present the results of the stakeholder survey, which offers multiple perspectives that can shape future studies of regional implementation and yield policy-relevant guidance. Although our research primarily focuses on the regional level in Germany, it sheds light on various conflicts, uncertainties, and potentials that are likely to be relevant for the rollout of CDR in other countries. By examining these aspects, we contribute to the broader discourse on CDR and its potential implementation.

Law enforcement in the implication of Blue Cooperation – A reflection of China

Blue cooperation is a kind of maritime cooperation with the goal of sustainable development, the tone of openness and inclusiveness, and the means of innovation and sharing, which has a solid foundation in international law. Its connotation has been enriched in the progress of international governance. China has consistently been a steadfast implementer and practitioner of blue cooperation, but is confronted with internal and external challenges amidst a once-in-a-century global transformation. China should draw lessons from existing experiences in international "blue" ocean governance, effectively utilize the cooperative tools provided by international law, focus on common interests among various parties, build a comprehensive, wide-ranging, and multi-level pattern of blue cooperation, deepen a global blue partnership based on equality, openness, and cooperation, and construct a new discourse system for blue cooperation under the concept of a community of shared future for humanity, which aims to achieve new developments in global ocean cooperation governance.

Behind the Huawei sanction: national security, ideological prejudices or something else?

Digital supremacy is fundamental to national security and global economic competitiveness. An imperative of protecting critical information infrastructure (CII) is the theoretical basis for cybersecurity policies. The cyber competition has the potential to reshape global tech supply chains and international economic governance. The winner will make standards and rules that can take the most advantage of a first mover. The assumption that governments across jurisdictions embrace similar policies, regardless of their ideologies, is not a paradoxical proposition any more in the time of globalisation 2.0. Both the US and China use law enforcement power to advance their national strategic interests. The imposition of sanctions against Huawei is an epitome of the current US–China cyber competition game far beyond the mere economic scenario. This study seeks to explore whether the unilateral approaches would be well justified in a new normal of the decoupling era and how to establish a viable global cyber governance regime.

The ‘China Model’ in the Middle East

Over the last six months, China has no longer seemed ascendant in the Middle East. As the United States has assumed a leading role in both regional and global diplomacy over the conflict in Gaza, China has drifted increasingly to the margins. It is becoming clear not only that China does not aspire to replace the United States in the Middle East, but also that China and most Arab states alike want the United States to maintain committed to Middle Eastern security. At the same time, however, both China and the Arab states appear driven to loosen what they see as an undesirable US grip on the region and to forge a more multipolar future. In pursuit of it, they find common purpose in a single, simple idea: China presents a new model for domestic and international governance, and there are large parts of China’s model that are worth emulating. A striking feature of this pursuit is its vagueness.

A Critical Reflection on the Impact of International Organisations on Vocational Education Policy in China

Under the influence of globalisation, the importance of international organisations has become increasingly prominent. This paper explores the four stages of China's vocational education policy development and the effects of its implementation, as well as the impact of international governmental and non-governmental organisations on the development of vocational education and training (VET) in China. Specifically, the paper critically reflects on the degree to which the 4A principles, namely acceptability, availability, adaptability, and accessibility, have been accomplished in China's vocational education system in the context of reality, and the role of international organisations in policy-making and economic assistance in vocational education.

Precariousness and vulnerability: Seafarers in the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the world and work in particular, but its effects on the labor market were not evenly distributed. Seafarers, who are essential workers engaging in international maritime transport, encountered exacerbated challenges to labor conditions at sea during the pandemic. Notably, the inability to conduct crew changes violated their right to rest, increasing the risk of fatigue-related safety accidents at sea. Additionally, the precarious nature of maritime employment relationships delayed seafarers waiting to enlist on the vessels, creating extended financial hardship ashore. Socio-legal analysis revealed how the pandemic, related public health measures and precarious employment heightened the vulnerability of seafarers during the pandemic. Applying the Pressure, Disorganization and Regulatory Failure model and supported by qualitative data collected through a policy review, media coverage analysis and semi-structured interviews, we identified how seafarers’ health and safety rights were significantly compromised during the pandemic. Even though various initiatives were raised by international governmental and non-governmental organizations to address the “humanitarian crisis” at sea, maritime labor regulatory failures were not effectively addressed throughout the multiple waves of the pandemic.

Are businesses giving AI the support it needs to grow and scale?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries, and financial services are no exception. This paper explores how AI can revolutionise both customer interactions and back-office operations within banks and insurance companies. AI-powered tools like chatbots and recommendation engines can answer questions 24/7, identify customer trends and suggest personalised products, all of which can significantly improve customer satisfaction. In the back office, AI automates repetitive tasks such as data analysis and document processing. This frees up human employees to focus on more complex and strategic activities, while also leading to cost savings and increased efficiency. However, implementing AI in financial services comes with its own set of challenges. Businesses must continuously invest in AI to keep pace with rapid technological advancements. Regulatory frameworks are struggling to adapt to the evolving nature of AI, which creates uncertainty for businesses. Additionally, ensuring transparency and fairness in AI decision making, especially with complex algorithms, is a major hurdle. The quality of data used to train AI models is also crucial. Biased data can lead to discriminatory outcomes, so maintaining high-quality data is essential. These challenges have led to the development of explainable AI (XAI) models, which can explain their reasoning, helping to address transparency concerns and meet regulatory requirements. Data quality management strategies are also required to ensure data is complete, accurate and unbiased for ethical AI implementation. On a global scale, collaboration among international organisations and governments is necessary to establish consistent and effective AI regulations. The paper concludes that the human element is invaluable in the age of AI. Human expertise is needed to program AI systems, address ethical considerations, and manage potential biases within the data. Furthermore, the workforce needs to be upskilled and reskilled to adapt to the changing landscape with AI. The paper recommends a ‘human-in-the-loop’ (HITL) approach, in which human judgment is combined with AI capabilities for responsible and efficient decision making. Collaboration and international harmonisation are key to ensuring responsible and ethical AI adoption in financial services.

Towards a Non-Use Regime on Solar Geoengineering: Lessons from International Law and Governance

AbstractIn recent years, some scientists have called for research into and potential development of ‘solar geoengineering’ technologies as an option to counter global warming. Solar geoengineering refers to a set of speculative techniques to reflect some incoming sunlight back into space, for example, by continuously spraying reflective sulphur aerosols into the stratosphere over several generations. Because of the significant ecological, social, and political risks posed by such technologies, many scholars and civil society organizations have urged governments to take action to prohibit the development and deployment of solar geoengineering techniques. In this article we take such calls for a prohibitory or a non-use regime on solar geoengineering as a starting point to examine existing international law and governance precedents that could guide the development of such a regime. The precedents we examine include international prohibitory and restrictive regimes that impose bans or restrictions on chemical weapons, biological weapons, weather modification technologies, anti-personnel landmines, substances that deplete the ozone layer, trade in hazardous wastes, deep seabed mining, and mining in Antarctica. We also assess emerging norms and soft law in anticipatory governance of novel technologies, such as human cloning and gene editing. While there is no blueprint for a solar geoengineering non-use regime in international law, our analysis points to numerous specific elements on which governments could draw to constrain or impose an outright prohibition on the development of technologies for solar geoengineering, should they opt to do so.

Statelessness and Solidarity: Palestinians, Dhofaris, and Saharawis in Tricontinental Media

Abstract From its beginning, the Organisation of Solidarity of the Peoples of Africa, Asia, and Latin America (ospaaal) used its print media to campaign on behalf of Palestinian nationalism, articulating the concerns of displaced Palestinians from a perspective of unrecognised and thwarted national liberation movements. This organisation, responsible for carrying out the activities of the Tricontinental group that began meeting in Havana in 1966, identified the issue of Palestinian statelessness as a key feature of ongoing colonialism. From this perspective, ospaaal developed a platform from which to articulate solidarity against ongoing imperialism, one which could be usefully extended to explain and render solidarity with other causes. We argue that ospaaal’s visual and narrative framework, extended to the anti-colonial advocacy first for Dhofar (from the late 1960s to middle of the 1970s) and later for Western Sahara (late 1970s to 1990), presented a powerful, though limited, critique of international governance institutions from the Global South. Tricontinental publications’ reporting and solidarity media, in framing statelessness as an inherent problem of an incomplete process of decolonisation, critiqued the rhetorical strategies employed by imperial powers to maintain colonial relationships through international organisations like the United Nations.

Life cycle assessment as a prospective tool for sustainable agriculture and food planning at a local level

Owing to the far-reaching environmental consequences of agriculture and food systems, such as their contribution to climate change, there is an urgent need to reduce their impact. International and national governments set sustainability targets and implement corresponding measures. Nevertheless, critics of the globalized system claim that a territorial administrative scale is better suited to address sustainability issues. Yet, at the sub-national level, local authorities rarely apply a systemic environmental assessment to enhance their action plans. This paper employs a territorial life cycle assessment methodology to improve local environmental agri-food planning. The objective is to identify significant direct and indirect environmental hotspots, their origins, and formulate effective mitigation strategies. The methodology is applied to the administrative department of Finistere, a strategic agricultural region in North-Western France. Multiple environmental criteria including climate change, fossil resource scarcity, toxicity, and land use are modeled. The findings reveal that the primary environmental hotspots of the studied local food system arise from indirect sources, such as livestock feed or diesel consumption. Livestock reduction and organic farming conversion emerge as the most environmentally efficient strategies, resulting in a 25% decrease in the climate change indicator. However, the overall modeled impact reduction is insufficient following national objectives and remains limited for the land use indicator. These results highlight the innovative application of life cycle assessment led at a local level, offering insights for the further advancement of systematic and prospective local agri-food assessment. Additionally, they provide guidance for local authorities to enhance the sustainability of planning strategies.