Medium-sized State Research Articles

Civilian knowledge industries and the ascendance of small and medium-sized states in world politics

In the evolving landscape of international politics, the ascent of small and medium-sized (SMS) states in knowledge industries is notable. As these states, exemplified by Israel, Sweden, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, harness advanced technological capabilities, their global influence grows. Unlike great powers, SMS states face a heightened risk in developing advanced technology due to limited national resources and the absence of technological redundancies. Our examination of Israel’s experience in the satellite, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence industries serves as a case study demonstrating how an SMS state can establish competitive knowledge sectors. These technologically advanced SMS states attain a status akin to middle powers, challenging conventional perceptions. Analyzing Israel’s commitment to securing these technological fields reveals government intervention aimed at cultivating sustainable knowledge industries and preserving critical knowledge. While diverse motivations drive the technological development of SMS states, their capabilities reshape conventional notions of middle powers and global power distribution.

Closing the Gap? The Ability of Adaptive Learning Courseware to Close Outcome Gaps in Principles of Microeconomics

Research shows that students who identify as low-income, first-generation, and/or racially diverse disproportionately underperform in college and earn fewer degrees than other students. This study explores the integration of adaptive learning courseware assignments as a tool to help close these outcome gaps and to ensure more equitable learning across diverse student groups. Adaptive learning courseware is an educational technology that requires students to master the same learning objectives but, for each student, the courseware determines the order and timing of content based on how that student interacts with the courseware, thus enabling an individualized learning path for each student. Adaptive learning assignments were implemented in five sections of a highly-enrolled Principles of Microeconomics course at a medium-sized state university in the United States. This study draws from student data (n=581), which includes adaptive learning assignment completion data, detailed exam and final grade data, and institutional demographic data. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses are used to explore if the completion of adaptive learning assignments disproportionately benefited low-income, first-generation, or racially diverse students, thus helping close the gap between students from different backgrounds. Findings include significant evidence that adaptive learning assignment completion was correlated with more exam questions answered correctly by all students, with this correlation being disproportionately stronger for students who identify as being from a minority background and for foundational (easy) exam questions.

Pivotal power of small states to save the international liberal economic order: the case from East Asia

Small- and medium-sized states acquire significant influence when regional and global orders are in flux, as in times of power transition. We have observed such dynamics especially since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, when the competition between two superpowers of the United States (US) and China has intensified in such a way that it affects the soundness of the liberal international economic order (LIEO). These smaller states have become influential in the institutionalization of regional political and economic orders when conditions are right. We argue that the following three aspects of a small state’s attributes influence heavily in shaping their proactive approach to LIEO. The first is its economic structure that shapes its motivation. The second is its polity type that defines internal constraints. The third and final component is its international status that imposes external constraints. This study examines trade policies taken by Vietnam, Indonesia, and South Korea from the 2010s and onward and compares their respective approaches and their impacts on economic order-building in East Asia and beyond.

Linking Local Insights to Global IR: Locating Malaysian Contours and Contributions

This article traces the trajectories, theoretical propensities, and thematic insights underlying Malaysian scholarly thinking and writings about international relations (IR). It argues that while their contributions to the Global IR research program have been indirect and implicit, they are not insignificant. The contributions are not claims of exceptionalism but expressions of diverse experiences, perspectives, and narratives that are reflective of the contesting, yet recurring logics significant for understanding and explaining small- and medium-sized states’ behavior in an anarchical world. Three themes are particularly pertinent: (1) external policy choices are extensions of internal attributes; (2) small-state outlook on regionalism and multilateralism; and (3) middle-state alignment behavior. Local insights contribute to Global IR by enriching, expanding, and exporting national narratives and regional mindsets into thematic thrusts pertinent for making sense of similar cases elsewhere, thereby pluralizing the universality and inclusivity of IR concepts and theories.

Теория и практика функционирования форматов межправительственных консультаций: кейс ФРГ

Rather important goal for international relations is to improve methods for studying of interstate dialogue. The author paysattention to the format of intergovernmental consultations. The goal of article is to explore the functioning of the format onthe example of Germany, which uses this one in the dialogue with 12 other states. The problems of the functioning of theformat are still not in the details explored in Russian political science. Usually, the format is established by one power forthe cooperation with another power or the very important ally among small and medium-sized states. The frequency of themeetings is established for each format. Compliance with frequency or violation of it, especially interruption of the work arethe indicators of the dialogue development. One meeting in the format lasts only one day and it determines the scheme ofthe negotiations. The countries should focus on the most perspective and, on the contrary, the most problematic tracks of theagenda of bilateral relations, even if these negotiation priorities differ from the conceptual guidelines for each state. The keyvariants of the end of the meeting in the format are presented.The article explores the geography and chronology of establishment of the formats with German participation. Beforethe XXI century there was the long period of time between the launch of every two new formats. In the early – mid 2010s andearly 2020s there were the waves of newly established formats. The author stresses the absence of the ones between Germanyand the Arabian states, Iran, the African ones and explains the reasons. The difficulty for Germany was also the creationof formats with the Anglo-Saxon states. Another problem has become since the mid 2010-s the “freezing” of some formats(with Russia), the long interruption of their functioning (with Brazil, Italy, Poland, Turkey), the violation of frequency (withFrance, Netherlands, Spain). The article shows the reasons of such situations in each case. At the same time there has beenstable functioning of the mechanisms with India and China, even when the confrontation between the PRC and the USA hasbegun. The author concludes that in the 2010s Germany has tried to make the system of the formats of intergovernmentalconsultations global. But by the beginning of the 2020s these efforts were unsuccessful and there was the degradation of the process.

Management of the Development Programme of the Navy – a concept for the Polish Naval Forces

The purpose of this article is to propose a model for planning the development of the naval forces in a medium-sized state through a process of their accurate and effective modernisation, on the example of Poland. Taking up such a subject arises from the delayed results of the current modernisation efforts. In order to achieve the aim mentioned above, it is recommended to solve the research problem by defining a suitable methodology facilitating the planning of naval development. The working hypothesis states that the methodology for the planning development of the naval forces should define a scope of modernisation activities undertaken with the use of tools and methods typical of management and quality sciences. The Allies’ guidelines on acquisition of defence resources stated in the NATO standardisation publications have been also taken under consideration in the research analysis. This modus operandi allows the Authors to fill a research gap in an interdisciplinary approach toward planning the process in question. The study is of conceptual nature. However, it enables the creation of well - aimed and justified programmes for the development of the Polish Naval Forces. The article displays a new perspective in the research analysis, which was formerly conducted by Authors in the years 2020 and 2021, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

European Integration: Everything New Is Actually Well-Forgotten Old

Introduction: the paper examines the history of the formation and competence of regional economic integration associations after the Second World War. The analysis of the integration processes that took place in the context of the current state of the world economy is given. The question of the viability of those models of integration associations that are still being used by the representatives of the West in opposition to the model proposed by Russia is raised. The purpose of the presented research is to analyze the state of the European system of economic integration with a comparative analysis of models of integration associations and to establish the characteristics and trends of development of such models, as well as to determine the role and place of Russia in integration associations. Methods: the paper was prepared with using the methods of scientific cognition, mainly the method of system analysis, comparative law and historical methods. Results: the most effective and rational strategy for cooperation within the framework of economic integration is to promote the role and effectiveness of existing integration associations (SCO, EAEU, BRICS and others), to attract states to participate in them, which the Russian Federation adheres to in accordance with the provisions of the current Foreign Policy Concept. Conclusions: regional economic integration is a multifaceted phenomenon that can strengthen the geopolitical importance and economy of only individual participants of the association, assist in establishing effective interaction between small and medium-sized (in terms of assessing economic power) states with larger integration entities and, in the case of Russia, contribute to the restoration and development of production, as well as the creation of their own Eurasian TNCs based on existing experience and resource base.

Library space design to promote student engagement: A comparison of graduate and undergraduate students

This article explores the library space needs and wants of graduate and undergraduate students at a medium-size state University in Southwest Florida. The researcher conducted a sequential explanatory mixed methods study in which they administered a survey to all currently enrolled graduate and undergraduate students at the university and followed up with semi-structured interviews to better understand students library space needs/wants and how those elements contribute to student success through a lens of academic and social engagement. The researcher identified several library space needs that were common to both graduate and undergraduate students including: comfortable and functional furniture, a variety of study spaces including a mix of individual and group spaces, conducive noise levels, technology, whiteboards, windows to let in natural light, seclusion food and drink options nearby, safety and security, adequate lighting and electrical outlets, and effective wayfinding. An additional need of separate graduate student space was also identified. Findings from this study can help inform the design of library spaces to better support student success through engagement.

THE EFFECTS OF THE UKRAINIAN WAR ON THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND INTERNATIONAL ORDER

Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, in February 2022, marked the re-emergence of war as a social phenomenon on the European continent, but it also represented a clear signal of challenging the international order based on the UN legal system. Moreover, the continuation of this conflict, despite the measures taken by the international community, has triggered doubts regarding the system’s degree of functionality underlying the international order, in the context of new global challenges. Also, as the conflict in Ukraine prolongs, the policies of the great powers, but also that of small and medium-sized states fearful for their survival, are changing, which will obviously lead to a recalibration of the international order. Therefore, the purpose of this research focuses on establishing the degree of resilience of the current international security system and what transformative trends are identified in the international law system and in the global order in general, but also as effects of the development of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In this respect, the main research method is the content analysis of certain international legal documents and statements of some government officials, the conclusions being later translated into an empirical interpretation that helps to achieve the purpose of the research.

Considerations for continued expansion of the Brazilian post-graduate system

The number of programs and students in the Brazilian postgraduate system has doubled in the last 10 years. This has implications for the quality and financing of these programs as well as for the development of the regions where they are set. This study aims to investigate the reasons and limitations for the continued expansion of the Brazilian postgraduate system. Data (2011 to 2020) for this study came from: (i) the “Sucupira” postgraduate database from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), (ii) Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (INEP), (iii) Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), (iv) InCites® and Web of Science data, and (v) questionnaire and meetings with the deans for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Brazil. Data analyses included regression over time, frequency chi-square, and correspondence analyses. Different types of institutions in different regions showed varying opinions, with higher expectations for expansion in smaller, newer institutions, especially private ones. While the HEIs in the Northern region believe that the master’s degree is to correct undergraduate flaws, the HEIs in the South and Central regions and the community believe that the master’s degree should develop professional skills. In contrast, the larger HEIs with older postgraduate programs in all regions believe in direct doctorate strategy. The reasons for creating new post-graduate programs involved following the institution’s general guidelines for private and community HEIs and granting the lecturers’ wishes or constant expansion depending on region, North, Northeast, and Central regions, as well as for creating medium-sized state universities. State-of-the-art research or the interests of society were prevalent for the largest and oldest HEIs. Continued expansion of the Brazilian postgraduate system needs to take into account factors including the demand for the program, regionalization, the quality of the programs, the means of funding, and the student vacancies existing in programs with high grades, among other challenges.

What combined diversity conditions of board directors lead to financial sustainability? A fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis of Italian universities

ABSTRACT Although recent reforms of higher education (HE) across Europe have involved reconfigurations of internal governance structures, little research has been conducted on the characteristics and practices of governing bodies and their impact on performance. In particular, more empirical evidence is required on the composition of the board of directors, whose role and responsibilities in strategy making and monitoring of university activities have been significantly strengthened. This paper focuses on the issue of diversity in board composition, which has gained increasing attention in the corporate literature but has largely been ignored in HE. Since most studies of diversity in HE have been fragmented, a configurational approach is followed to examine the combinations of diversity of directors that lead to high board performance in universities. Drawing from the literature and considering the characteristics of university governance, four conditions are identified: age, gender, educational background and provenance. The method of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is used to investigate the cases of 18 medium-sized state universities in Italy. The analysis revealed that no single condition is necessary or sufficient, while there are two paths that lead to board effectiveness: low educational background diversity and high provenance diversity combined with high age diversity, and low educational background diversity and high provenance diversity combined with low gender diversity.

What Governance Failures Reveal about Water Resources Management in a Municipality of Brazil

Humans have historically chosen to develop their cities close to rivers due to the need for water and food security. In Brazil, water security represents a growing challenge, despite advances in the National Water Resources Management System. While municipalities are responsible for integrating the various public policies that impact urban rivers, such as the environment, basic sanitation, and urban planning, only states and the federal government, along with watershed committees, have a formal role in the National Water Resources Management System. The goal of this paper is to assess the Brazilian water governance system from the perspective of municipalities. The OECD water governance framework is applied to a medium-sized Brazilian municipality (c. 200,000 inhabitants), Itabuna, Bahia state, through perception-based and objective data. Studies dealing with water governance do not address this reality, despite representing more than 90% Brazilian municipalities and approximately half of the country’s population. Several water governance failures were identified, such as connections between administrative and political failures, which highlight the tragic consequences of hydrological issues in this region. Developing integrated water resources’ management, as fixed in national and state laws, depends on the effective participation of the municipality. This study discusses the importance of water governance at the municipal scale.

Italia și negocierile României pentru intrarea în Primul Război Mondial (1914-1915)

Although the relations between the Great Powers expressed the fundamental trends of the evolution of the international situation in the period preceding the First World War, it is still necessary to specify that a significant role in the international life was acquired by some small and medium-sized states which, by their geographical and political position and through the economic and military potential, they could significantly influence the evolution of international political life. In this context, the importance of Romania’s role in international relations can be seen, given the fact that the Great Powers’ interest in the Romanian state had grown considerably. As the crisis of July 1914 worsened, the question of Romania’s attitude towards the Austro-Serbian conflict became of paramount importance in the future strategy of the Central Powers, because all the plans for attack and defense formations of the Triple Alliance were arranged in cooperation with the Romanian army. Since the beginning of the World War, between Romania and Italy there has been an approach desired by politicians from both states. However, the subsequent evolution of events and the separation of Italy from Romania during the negotiations with the Entente had the effect of weakening the supply of forces that a synchronous Italian-Romanian contribution would have brought it. Obviously, the effect would have been different if the two countries entered at once, both in terms of the military blow given to the Central Powers, and also on the attitude of the neutral countries in the Balkans, Bulgaria and Greece.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Emergence of Vietnam as a Middle Power

Limited capability and political will have caused the great powers to fail to demonstrate their global leadership in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created greater room to manoeuvre for other countries to influence international affairs. Preliminary achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 crisis have buttressed the rising global status of small and medium-sized states, including Vietnam. Although Vietnam has recently been recognised as an emerging middle power, scepticism looms regarding whether this higher international status is beyond its capacity. We argue that the pandemic may act as a catalyst for Vietnam to further elevate its strategic role as a middle power on the international stage in the medium and long term.

Distance learning and its impact on educational intervention on palliative care to nursing professionals–A pilot study

Background and objective: Distance education (DE) is a professional training tool that was utilized to work with nursing professionals in this investigation on palliative care. This innovative form of care is used by interdisciplinary teams in a holistic way, with biological, psychological and spiritual aspects. Besides it is uniquely significant during pandemic lockdowns such as the current restrictions in nowadays. The aim of the study was to evaluate the knowledge of nursing professionals about palliative care, before and after an educational intervention through distance education.Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study carried out in a medium-sized state teaching hospital located in the Midwest region of Brazil. Participants: 31 nursing professionals who worked in the internal medicine ward. First phase, the prior knowledge about palliative care was evaluated through a questionnaire containing 24 semi-structured questions. In the second phase seven 20-minute video lessons were prepared, recorded and sent to the participating group. Third phase the same questionnaire was used to evaluate participants and they were inquired how they perceived they knowledge after distance learning.Results: A total of 31 professionals were enrolled in the first phase of the study and 29 answered the evaluation questionnaire after DE intervention. Most nursing professionals (61.2%) had between 31 and 50 years, 30 (96.7%) professionals had studied between 10 and 20 years. After DE there was an increase of 33% correct answers. Distance learning improved professional practice and increased confidence at work.Conclusions: Distance education is well accepted and promotes an increase of knowledge by up to a third on palliative care issues and also increased self-confidence among professionals.

FACTORS OF INFLUENCE ON EMPLOYMENT IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESS IN UKRAINE

In small and medium-sized businesses, the vast majority of the entire officially employed able-bodied population of the country is employed.
 The number of employed people, small and medium enterprises, external factors have a significant influence, which depend on measures implemented by state authorities to stimulate the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the country.
 In the scientific literature of different countries there are works based on the study of similar problems by conducting a survey among representatives of small and medium enterprises.
 The imperfection of existing state supportive programs and the development of small and medium-sized businesses necessitates an urgent need to analyze their compliance with modern market conditions.
 The study includes an analysis of the impact of various external factors on the number of employees in the small and medium-sized business.
 A significant number of negative factors of influence on small and medium-sized businesses indicated in the state support and development programs do not really have a significant impact on the efficiency of the activities of such entities.The views of representatives of small and medium-sized businesses and state bodies do not coincide with the main problems of activity.
 In order to increase the number of employed in small and medium-sized businesses, it is proposed to shift the emphasis of state support and development programs to the established key factors of influence.

Europe on the Road to World War II: Polemical Notes

Abstract. The Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine, preceded by the war of the Russian Federation against Georgia, raised the question of a joint repulse of democratic states to actions aimed at undermining European stability. The problem of protecting small and medium-sized states from the threat posed by Russia has arisen in a new way. In this context, the inability of leading European states to stop the aggression of Nazi Germany is repeatedly mentioned. To assess the relevance of such parallels with modernity, the authors of this article seek to briefly and objectively analyse what was happening in the 1930s. The threat of a military catastrophe and complete destabilisation of Europe had been growing since 1933, when Hitler came to power in Germany. He and his entourage gradually dragged Europe into a series of international conflicts and the World War II. According to the authors of the article, the leading motive for the inaction of Western powers within the military and political allied cooperation was not the desire to balance Germany’s military power and thus deter aggression but the attempt to avoid involvement in a world war by appeasing Hitler. In pursuit of European stability, France aimed to secure the military support of as wide a range of European countries as possible, and Great Britain was seeking to build a stable European system without making clear military commitments to the continental powers. London felt at peace with Berlin’s continental ambitions, as they did not cover the seas. London entertained the illusion that its security could be guaranteed without interfering in the war on the mainland. The authors emphasise that only in a state of conscious self-blindness could Western politicians for years retain the illusion of the prospect of civilising and taming the German dictator by satisfying his whims. Such illusions, however, never concerned Stalin. In the pre-war period, the Stalinist regime did its best to prevent the Soviet Union from being involved in building a system of collective security in Europe. The authors come to the following conclusion: in an effort to preserve at least the remnants of stability in Europe, the states have consistently moved towards continuous destabilization and war. Keywords: Europe, military and political union, World War II, Germany.

PP4 VALUE FRAMEWORKS IN REAL LIFE: COMMUNITY VALUES FOR MENTAL-HEALTH PROGRAMS

Interest in value frameworks that account for values other than narrowly defined health-state utilities offers opportunities to apply established stated-preference methods to quantify community benefits of state-sponsored mental-health programs, including reduced homelessness, unemployment, and criminality. The aim of this study was to quantify the public’s perceived value for publicly funded programs to treat severe mental illness. A national sample of 10,000 US adults completed an online discrete-choice experiment survey. Respondents answered five 3-alternative trade-off questions consisting of status quo (no increased spending) and 2 budget-increase alternatives. Each budget profile included expanding a mental-health program plus 2 respondent-specific expansions randomly selected from 4 non-health programs. Statistical modeling accounted for latent-class preference heterogeneity, state size, region, and individual-specific covariates. We omitted from the analysis 23% of the sample who rejected any increase in taxes for any purpose. Depending on state size and region, latent classes for the remainder of the sample included groups of participants who had well-defined priorities for mental-health programs and were relatively sensitive (32%-42%) or insensitive (21% to 35%) to increased taxes. Other groups ignored tax increases (21%-23%) or provided incoherent preference data (12%-18%). We imputed zero willingness to pay additional taxes for the latter two classes and for tax objectors. For a mental-health program expansion that would treat an additional 1500 patients in medium-sized states in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West regions of the US, the median acceptable increase in annual taxes was $218 (209, 227), $429 (415, 442), $252 (242, 263), and $216 (140, 293), respectively. Focusing narrowly on direct health outcomes understates the value of benefits to patients, their families, and communities of successfully treating severe mental illness. Even after accounting for a significant proportion of general-population respondents who indicated zero perceived benefits for improved mental-health treatment, we obtained significant values for total community benefits.

О тенденциях развития малого и среднего предпринимательства и мерах государственной поддержки в Свердловской области

О тенденциях развития малого и среднего предпринимательства и мерах государственной поддержки в Свердловской области

Strategic satisficing: Civil-military relations and French intervention in Africa

AbstractFew issues are more important yet less understood than outside interventions in intra-state conflicts. Under what circumstances do intervening states further their interests and when, contrarily, do they plunge into quagmires? France is a critical case. It is, statistically, the world’s second intervenor and earned the sobriquet of Africa’s gendarme through frequent interventions in African wars. The ability of such a medium-sized state to intervene with greater regularity and ostensible success than larger powers raises questions about how France manages its interventions. Do French interventions draw on the French Army’s distinctive ‘school’ of population-centric counterinsurgency, which emphasises the need to militarise governance in pursuit of comprehensive victories? Or do the French Fifth Republic’s civil-military institutions encourage policymakers to carefully regulate force’s employment in pursuit of limited ends? This study draws on declassified archives to test which approach most characterises French interventions. To preview my conclusions, strategic satisficing – the use of minimal force for short durations to produce satisfactory outcomes – distinguishes the Fifth Republic’s interventions from other powers’ practices and prior French counterinsurgencies. This particular form of interventionism enables France to influence a large number of intra-state conflicts and maintain a network of security agreements with African states.