Regional International Organizations Research Articles

Sovereignty in the Age of Globalization

States have always had unchallenged sovereign power, but in the present time, this power is collapsing due to the emergence of international organizations, regional organizations, international courts, and tribunals, NGOs & MNCs. Sovereignty and globalization are both concepts that are looked into in this paper through the application of a methodical framework. Global factors influence the internal matters of a state, ultimately affecting the effectiveness of the state's sovereign powers. Furthermore, the paper talks about the challenges faced by the state due to this increased involvement. And opportunities. Undoubtedly, nationalism has risen across the globe because of global expansion. Migration is on the rise due to globalization, and along with it, the nationalistic sentiment has also increased. Numerous nations are facing severe difficulties owing to migration, resulting in a direct impact on state sovereignty. In regards to challenges faced by the sovereignty of the state, the paper even highlights futuristic aspects, keeping in mind the past and historical events that helped mankind throughout this challenging journey.

Between Crisis and Revival: Withdrawal Threats, State Exits, and Institutional Change of Regional International Organizations

Between Crisis and Revival: Withdrawal Threats, State Exits, and Institutional Change of Regional International Organizations

Linguistic tools of manipulation in russian language translations Of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and its “Sisters” resolutions

One of the ways to clarify national terminology and to enshrine correct definitions of concepts related to various aspects of gender issues in the legal framework is using the official translations of international documents on women’s rights and gender equality in Ukrainian language. The issue of the correctness of translations of international documents in general and in the field of human rights and gender equality in particular is not only an important subject of scientific research, but also has great practical significance in the context of Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine. Russian language is an official language of the UN. All documents from the working languages of the UN General Assembly (English and French) are translated into Russian and used by regional international organisations, as well as by countries beside the russian federation where this language has status of the official or state language. In addition, many translations of international documents into Ukrainian have been made using Russian translations as basis. This also applies to such important documents in the field of women’s rights and gender equality as UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women. Peace. Security” and related Security Council resolutions, in particular, 1888, 2467, 2493 and others. Based on a comparative analysis of the original texts of the above-mentioned UN Security Council resolutions and their russian translations, the article offers a classification of directions of linguistic manipulation in the translation of documents, illustrated by specific examples; draws conclusions about the consequences and impact of the using of incorrect translations on the policy of ensuring women’s rights and gender equality at both the international and national levels; offers recommendations for identifying linguistic manipulation during translation process.

Good governance in autocratic international organizations

AbstractA large and growing number of international organizations (IOs) are made up and governed by illiberal or outright authoritarian regimes. Many of these authoritarian IOs (AIOs) formally adopt good governance mandates, linking goals like democracy promotion, anti-corruption policies and human rights to their broader mission. Why do some AIOs adopt good governance mandates that appear to conflict with the norms and standards these regimes apply at home? We argue that AIOs adopt good governance mandates when they face substantial pressure from inside or outside the IO to adopt them. Central to our argument is that not all aspects of good governance are inherently or equally threatening to autocratic regimes. They pursue strategies that minimize the threat by externalizing policy outside the membership and strategically defining the goals to avoid or enact. This allows autocratic governments to uptake good governance talk but lessen any deep commitment to the norms and sometimes even to use them strategically to project their own power outside of the organization. Using data on 48 regional IOs with primarily autocratic membership between 1945 and 2015, we demonstrate that AIOs facing pressure from external good governance promoters will adopt good governance mandates but strategically shape those mandates in their favor if they can form bargaining coalitions with like-minded governments. The findings have sobering implications for the future of good governance promotion through IOs.

Russia's Leadership in Eurasia: Holding Together or Falling Apart?

Abstracts The Russo–Ukraine War raises important questions on the dynamics of regional leadership and followership in what may be termed “Russian-led Eurasia.” These questions, in particular, the strength of Russian leadership in the region is complicated by the ambiguity in existing literature and competing images of Russia's relations with long-standing allies—notably Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan—which are often portrayed in terms of a “community of fate” or partners destined for closer integration but also as a “community of fortune” or ad hoc, situational partners, loosely centered on Russia. This article offers an innovative theoretical and methodological exploration of Russia's relations with regional partner states by utilizing the English School of International Relations and regional integration organizations to assess Russia's regional leadership. As argued in this article, Russian-led Eurasia may be understood as an example of a regional interstate society with Russian hegemony serving as a socially conferred, binding institution. But this hegemony is inherently unstable owing to Russia's inability to balance hegemonic “rights” with “responsibilities.” War in Ukraine did not create this problem, but it has created the conditions for leadership transition in the region.

Economic crises and the survival of international organizations

How do hard economic times affect countries’ foreign policy and, specifically, their international commitments? Although a large body of literature assumes that economic crises lead to the prioritization of domestic politics at the expense of international cooperation, these claims are rarely subjected to systematic empirical tests. This study examines one important aspect of these relationships: the consequences of economic crises for the survival of international organizations (IOs), a question that attracted only scant scholarly attention to date. Theoretically, we argue that even though economic crises can weaken member states’ commitment to IOs, they also underscore their ability to tackle the root causes of such crises and mitigate their most pernicious effects. As such, economic crises are actually conducive to IO longevity. We expect this effect to be especially pronounced for currency crises, IOs with an economic mandate, and regional IOs, given their particular relevance for international cooperation during hard economic times. These conjectures are tested with a comprehensive sample of IOs and data on currency, banking and sovereign debt crises from 1970 to 2014. Using event history models and controlling for several alternative explanations of IO survival, we find ample empirical support for the theoretical expectations.

Sun from Behind the Clouds: the Appeals Board of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

Abstract One of the lesser-known regional international organizations in Europe is the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). It has a mandate to undertake tasks such as the production of weather forecasts, conduct scientific research to improve meteorological projections, maintain extensive datasets, and to better coordinate European meteorological infrastructure. The Centre has three sites across three European states where it has over 400 staff, and given it is immune from suit, its staff members only have an internal justice mechanism to resort to in the event of employment/pensions disputes. Little is known about the ECMWF Appeals Board given its untransparent nature. As uncovered in this article, it has undergone partial reform, and simultaneously, there has been an uptick in the number of cases. This article analyses these developments and highlights that more must be done to align the ECMWF Appeals Boards with the features of other international administrative tribunals.

ПРЕДУПРЕЖДЕНИЕ И ЛИКВИДАЦИЯ ЧРЕЗВЫЧАЙНЫХ И КРИЗИСНЫХ СИТУАЦИЙ: ПРОБЛЕМЫ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ МЕЖДУНАРОДНО-ПРАВОВОГО РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЯ

The conceptual concept and types of interaction of international legal regulators on the prevention and liquidation of emergency and crisis situations are formulated The role of generally recognized principles of international law in ensuring international cooperation in the prevention of emergencies and crisis situations has been established. International cooperation in this area is based on and implemented through universal, regional international legal mechanisms, as well as bilateral treaties. The role of the United Nations in the normative, programmatic and expert support of cooperation between states on disaster risk reduction, as well as universal international organizations and conferences in the development of international legal regulators for countering emergency and crisis situations is considered. The analysis of the activities of international regional organizations on the international legal provision of emergency prevention, including in the arctic region, is carried out. In conclusion, it is concluded that there is an insufficient level of coherence and integrity of the international legal regulation of the prevention and liquidation of emergency and crisis situations.

Current Approaches to Improving Consensus Decision-Making Mechanisms in International Regional Organizations

This study is aimed to study a key element of the activity of any international organization — the problem of consensus decision-making and the corresponding practice of solving it both in integration bodies (Eurasian Economic Union, European Union) and in interstate organizations devoid of a supranational component (Shanghai Cooperation Organization, North Atlantic Treaty Organization treaty, Collective Security Treaty Organization).Aim. Identify current approaches to improving the application of the rule of consensus in interstate (intergovernmental) structures and their bodies.Tasks. Investigate and generalize the practice of consensus decision-making within the international regional organizations, highlight actual ways to increase the efficiency of their decision-making mechanisms.Methods. The study used general scientific methodology. The comparative analysis method is used to compare existing decision-making practices. Analysis, synthesis, generalization, as well as the formal logical method were used to formulate the conclusions of the work.Results. The collective decision-making based on consensus follows from the international legal principle par in parem non habet imperium. It emphasizes the equality of all participants in an international organization and excludes the imposition of obligations non-approved by a sovereign state. From this point of view, consensus is a way to strengthen unity and achieve organizational stability. Simultaneously the practice of using this form in various international organizations gives evidence to its low efficiency in decision-making. Achieving consensus requires intensive efforts to coordinate the positions of the parties, and the emergence of “one-vote veto” situations cannot be ruled out. A possible way to increase the efficiency of decision-making within the framework of integration processes (EU, EAEU) lies through the development of supranational mechanisms.Conclusions. Analysis of the practice of functioning of international regional organizations (SCO, NATO, CSTO) allows to identify two approaches aimed at overcoming the negative features of consensus decision-making. The first involves the development of an international organization with formal obligations of members into a community associated with the establishment of a set of shared values among its participants. The second presumes the creation of mechanisms that allow interested states to use the institutions of such a structure to make collective decisions without a not-participating state. Both approaches do not exclude but complement each other.

About PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development

PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development (PJGD) is a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal of Jimma University that publishes editorials, research articles, book reviews, commentaries, and notes. PJGD offers a platform for the expression of new scientific inquiries to intellectuals of the world in general and Africa & Ethiopia in particular to reflect on how governance and development can be promoted, strengthened, and consolidated. The biannual edition is published in February and August of each year only in English language. PJGD is APC Free Journal.
 PJGD accepts scientific works focused on the diversified areas of Governance and Development drawn from multiple disciplines of Political Science and International Relations, Public Management, Leadership, Development Economics, Environmental Governance, Peace and Conflict, Human Rights, National and International Law, Globalization, Public Policy, Regional and International Organizations, Gender, Peace and Conflict Management, International Political Economy, Multiculturalism, Civil Society, and related areas.

Genomic Research and Artificial Intelligence: Problems of Legal Regulation at the Global and Regional Level

The authors examine the trends and features of the development of legal regulation of genomic research in the context of digitalization at the level of global and regional international organizations, including integration associations. The current sources of legal regulation of the use of artificial intelligence technologies in the field of genomic research in modern international and integration law are analyzed, and the main trends in the development of global and regional regulation are identified. Attention is given to the fact that key international acts adopted both at the global and regional levels, and regulating certain aspects of genomic research, are so-called acts of soft law, which are advisory and constitute a kind of «pre-law». In conclusion, recommendations are presented for improving the relevant legal regulation within the framework of integration associations with the participation of the Russian Federation.

Costly Signaling and China's Strategic Engagement in Arctic Regional Governance

In recent years, China has become an increasingly important actor in Arctic regional governance. While Beijing consistently frames its engagement in the region as a strategy of mutually-beneficial cooperation, some Arctic countries have raised significant concerns about its growing economic presence, warning that China may leverage its geopolitical influence to change the existing norms and rules in the polar region. Facing the mounting “China threat” skepticism, what are Beijing’s coping strategies to belie concerns? Based on a review of the existing research and government documents, particularly Chinese-language scholarly works and official reports, this article specifically identifies two types of costly signaling approaches employed by China to reduce Arctic countries’ distrust. First, China has started to curtail its Arctic investment in oil, gas, and mining while engaging more in sectors that chime well with Western societies’ global environmental values, including clean and renewable energy, ecological research that addresses further climatic change associated with global warming, and other environmentally sustainable industries. Second, Beijing has increasingly involved in regional international organizations, such as the Arctic Council, to signal its willingness to exercise state power under institutional constraints. These approaches aim to send a series of costly signals to conventional Arctic states, reassuring them that China is not a revisionist power that pursues hegemony in the region. Taken together, our findings have both scholarly and policymaking implications to understand China’s participation in Arctic regional governance.

CELAC in International Relations of Latin America (2010-2023)

The purpose of the research paper is to highlight the formation, development, and results of CELAC’s activities, as well as to define its place in international relations at both the regional and global levels.
 The scientific novelty is in the comprehensive analysis of the place and role of the regional international organization CELAC, its failures, and successful initiatives. The authors analyze the formation of CELAC as a representative body in relations with key world political actors – China, the EU, and Russia.
 Conclusions. CELAC continues to be an important factor in international relations, especially in the context of the desire of Latin American and Caribbean countries to strengthen cooperation and coordination. The establishment of CELAC was one of the vivid manifestations of the ‘left turn’ with its state-nationalist bias and emphasized interest in solving pressing social problems in domestic politics by the state from the top-down and ensuring its independence from global actors, primarily the United States. CELAC is not a replacement for the cooperation and integration groups – Mercosur, CARICOM, ALCA, etc. The desire for CELAC to be an alternative body – especially to the OAS (The Organization of American States) – does not enjoy regional consensus and it would be difficult to achieve with the resources this body currently has at its disposal.
 Although in general, CELAC’s activities were ineffective (most of the region’s problems had not been solved, including poverty, corruption, crime, etc.), there were examples of successful implementation of its decisions in 2013-2018. In recent years, we have observed the intensification of CELAC’s international activities, aimed, first of all, at establishing mutually beneficial and partnership relations with the key actors of world politics and economy – the EU, the USA, and China. But Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine, its desire for self-isolation, the sanctions of the Western world, and the condemnation of aggression by the UN – all this pushes the Caribbean countries away from Russia, although it does not completely negate their cooperation.

Legal forms of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia in the process of using the potential of international organizations

Although Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Kazakhstan are geographically located quite far from each other, they are nevertheless linked by dozens of international legal documents that facilitate their cooperation in a number of areas. This cooperation is facilitated by the presence of Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia in a number of universal and large regional international organizations. By combining efforts with international organizations these subjects of modern international law, member States, including Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Kazakhstan, protect their internal interests and satisfy not only their diverse needs, but also the needs of all member States of the relevant international organization. The article refers to the organizational and legal forms of cooperation between these two States within the framework of universal and regional international organizations as follows: 1) support and participation in the development of the texts of the international conventions under the auspices of the relevant international organization; 2) participation in the implementation of such international conventions in bilateral, regional and universal formats; 3) combining the efforts of two or more states in carrying out the reform of the internal mechanisms of the international organization; 4) ensuring control over all types of weapons and achieving the goals of disarmament; 5) assistance in developing a unified position of all Member States on establishing proper law and order in the international arena; 6) the creation of Islamic banking

Legal forms of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia in the process of using the potential of international organizations

Although Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Kazakhstan are geographically located quite far from each other, they are nevertheless linked by dozens of international legal documents that facilitate their cooperation in a number of areas. This cooperation is facilitated by the presence of Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia in a number of universal and large regional international organizations. By combining efforts with international organizations these subjects of modern international law, member States, including Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Kazakhstan, protect their internal interests and satisfy not only their diverse needs, but also the needs of all member States of the relevant international organization. The article refers to the organizational and legal forms of cooperation between these two States within the framework of universal and regional international organizations as follows: 1) support and participation in the development of the texts of the international conventions under the auspices of the relevant international organization; 2) participation in the implementation of such international conventions in bilateral, regional and universal formats; 3) combining the efforts of two or more states in carrying out the reform of the internal mechanisms of the international organization; 4) ensuring control over all types of weapons and achieving the goals of disarmament; 5) assistance in developing a unified position of all Member States on establishing proper law and order in the international arena; 6) the creation of Islamic banking.

Legal Capacity of Regional Organizations in Indonesian Maritime Modernization: A Momentum and Strength

This paper aims to examine the influences of international cooperation between member states of regional organizations in Indonesia's maritime modernization and dispute resolutions of regional international organizations for international violations. This research uses normative juridical research with a statutory approach and a conceptual approach. The results of the discussion show that sea power is the most important element for the progress and glory of a country, which if the sea power is empowered, it will improve the welfare and security of a country. On the other hand, if this sea power is ignored, it will result in losses to a country or even bring down the country. State power can be represented in state membership in international organizations based on the legal capacity of the organization to achieve the objectives of state interests that cover a very broad range of life. Indonesia's active role in international maritime organizations is a momentum and maritime strength in order to support the progress of Indonesia's maritime modernization as stipulated in Presidential Regulation Number 30 of 2019 and dispute resolution between members of the organization based on article 12 Draft Articles on the Responsibility of International Organizations (DARIO).

Topical issues of the use of peacekeeping operations in modern realities, including the military and police component: A case study of the UN and regional organizations

This study systematizes and analyzes the legal aspects of changes in the deployment of international peacekeeping forces over the past 50 years. The article deals with topical political and legal problems facing the peacekeeping activities of the United Nations (UN) and regional international organizations. These problems emanate from both natural institutional and artificially created factors. Overcoming the challenges ahead is possible only through the development of multilateral diplomacy, the aim of which is to achieve long-term and realizable agreements to resolve conflicts and establish lasting and sustainable peace. The study analyzes the role, effect, and potential of peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the UN and other regional international organizations to ensure international security as a timely response to legal and institutional challenges related to the interests of certain players in the world arena, where Russia and some countries in Europe and Asia have been affected.

Overlapping regionalism around the world: Introducing the overlapping regionalism dataset

Regional cooperation often leads to the establishment of regional international organizations (RIOs). Due to the increasing number of RIOs, their growing membership size and their broadening policy scope, RIOs frequently overlap with each other with regard to membership and mandate. Overlaps may lead to conflicts amongst affected organizations and potentially limit the prospects for regional prosperity and peace. Although overlapping regionalism has become ubiquitous in many regions, we do not systematically know the extent of the phenomenon. Therefore, the paper presents an original dataset about overlapping regionalism and introduces a typology of overlaps between two RIOs. The OVREG dataset includes both raw data of shared member states and policy competencies and information about distinct types of overlap between affected RIOs for 73 RIOs, 193 states and 344 policy competencies in the period between 1945 and 2020. A descriptive analysis of trajectories and patterns shows that overlapping regionalism in general and the different overlap types have spread over time and across world regions. Nevertheless, regional particularities persist. Thus, the OVREG dataset allows for examining the causes of overlaps, the potential negative consequences of overlapping regionalism and the variety of coping mechanisms at the disposal of affected RIOs.

About GaDS and PJGD

PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development (PJGD) is a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal of Jimma University that publishes editorials, research articles, book reviews, commentaries, and notes. PJGD offers a platform for the expression of new scientific inquiries to intellectuals of the world in general and Africa & Ethiopia in particular to reflect on how governance and development can be promoted, strengthened, and consolidated. The biannual edition is published in February and August of each year only in English language. PJGD is APC Free Journal.
 PJGD accepts scientific works focused on the diversified areas of Governance and Development drawn from multiple disciplines of Political Science and International Relations, Public Management, Leadership, Development Economics, Environmental Governance, Peace and Conflict, Human Rights, National and International Law, Globalization, Public Policy, Regional and International Organizations, Gender, Peace and Conflict Management, International Political Economy, Multiculturalism, Civil Society, and related areas.

The deterioration of South America’s security architecture: from cooperation to coexistence?

While South America made significant strides in regional security cooperation since the 1990s, more recently the region seems to have entered a process of backsliding from its cooperative achievements and towards mere coexistence. This article proposes that an English School approach allows for a nuanced assessment of regional security cooperation. It contributes to the analysis of regional international societies and regional organisations as markers of fundamental institutional change. While scholars have studied how regional organisations shape the fundamental institutions of regional international societies as they emerge and evolve, little research has been done on whether a decline in regional organisations can lead to changes in the fundamental institutions of regional international societies. Using a set of indicators for coexistence and cooperative international societies, we analyse whether there is evidence of backsliding from cooperation to coexistence in South America with regard to three different types of security challenges: interstate conflict and militarisation; inter-mestic repercussions of internal conflict and violence; and extra-regional influences. We argue that a decline in regional organisations exacerbates those challenges, as they are no longer mitigated through institutionalised diplomatic procedures. However, despite the organisational decline, fundamental institutions in South America have so far proven relatively resilient.