National Borders Research Articles

Political Professionalization Beyond National Borders: An Analysis of Italian MPs in Overseas Constituencies

Among European countries, Italy is one of the relatively few cases to provide a quota of reserved parliamentary seats for non-resident citizens. Despite an increased scientific interest in the topic, the group of MPs elected in Overseas Constituencies remains overlooked in the available literature. The gap relates to factors such as their socio-biographical profile, precedent careers, parliamentary activity, the role played in their recruitment by the party abroad or at a national level, and their style of representation. In this vein, the article investigates the career profiles of Italian MPs elected in Overseas Constituencies from 2006 (the first elections with the introduction of citizen representatives living abroad) to 2022. Based on an original data set and through an analysis of their biographical and political characteristics, the article builds a typology of elected MPs abroad by cross-referencing two dimensions derived from the literature: the linkage with the host country and the presence of previous political and associational experiences. The analysis shows that different types of MPs have different career lengths and a different capacity to collect preference votes.

Global primary care research challenges

Healthcare needs are changing globally as people live longer, but not necessarily in better health. Increased population migration is leading to culturally diverse patient populations with more diverse health needs and expectations. The provision of accessible and equitable primary care poses workforce, infrastructure and management challenges for high- and lower-middle income countries that transcend national borders. In this special issue, we describe ‘global primary care’ as primary care training, research and service delivery that places a priority on the needs and overall health of individuals and their communities, to advance health equity worldwide. Given this nascent definition, what should ‘global primary care research’ look like? The following case demonstrates the breadth of physical, mental, and social issues a primary care practitioner must consider when faced with a patient from a marginalised group in an inner-city practice and why training and research must have a focus on equity.

Globalizations from below: understanding the spatialities, mobilities and resources of transnational migrant entrepreneurs across the globe

ABSTRACT Transnational corporations have been long recognized as the building blocks of global system theory and their impact is widely acknowledged and studied. By comparison, we have insufficient understanding of transnational practices ‘from below’. We argue that focusing on transnational migrant entrepreneurship is a novel opportunity to gain insights into the social and economic processes of ‘globalization from below’. Such processes refer to the dynamics and practices initiated by actors outside the hegemonic socio-economic spheres who, using various resources, move people, goods and ideas across national borders to create small-scale enterprises thus connecting distant places and people around the world. This special issue brings together a transdisciplinary group of researchers who examine the spatialities, mobilities and resources of transnational migrant entrepreneurs in Asia, Europe, North Africa, South America and the USA. The rich empirical base, coupled with diverse research methods, provides new insights into the phenomenon to scholars, policymakers and practitioners.

Caring, law, and solidarity—on the need for reorientation

Abstract What significance does care have in law? How is solidarity understood in the relationship between individuals, society, and the state, and what needs to be changed? How should the welfare state promote care and caring relationships by granting solidary forms of support and enabling beyond the already existing but insufficient rights and services? These questions guide the analysis; German law and EU law are important points of reference, but the general argument transcends national borders and jurisdictions. It results that solidarities are ambivalent, the recognition of care-related rights and provision of care services and infrastructures is insufficient. There is a need for care policies based on solidarity. Although there are numerous fragmented regulations in family, labour and social law with regard to care and care needs, these are often inadequate. Coherent and solidarity-based care policies, such as those developed by some countries and international organizations, can serve as a stimulus and inspiration for social and legal policies in Germany and elsewhere. Although the contents of solidarity as a legal principle is rather indeterminate and open to the discretion of the state, solidarity can be an important part of the argument, because the social support and organization of care is in the interest of society and of all those who need or provide care and contribute to the public good.

The road to national competitiveness is paved with innovation and entrepreneurship: a qualitative comparative analysis

ABSTRACT In the twenty-first century, competitiveness has become a pillar of sustainable development strategies around the world. Numerous international organizations and academics cite innovation and entrepreneurship as determinants of competitiveness. By incorporating innovation and entrepreneurship into the economy and society, countries have been able to implement policies to boost national competitiveness. However, not all countries have been equally successful because each country has its own unique characteristics that apply only within its national borders. An innovation system refers to the innovation institutions, actors, and infrastructures that shape innovation activities within national or regional boundaries. This article identifies the configurations of conditions that lead to high and low levels of national competitiveness. This paper presents the results of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) with six causal conditions. The results reveal six combinations of factors that increase national competitiveness. R&D, innovation, entrepreneurship support policies, and GDP per capita are crucial elements. In contrast, developed entrepreneurship does not guarantee competitiveness achievement if a country possesses poor R&D and institutional infrastructures. The implications of this study can help resource allocation by supporting the design and implementation of effective innovation and entrepreneurship policies.

Mapping new colour lines – border studies within a workfare state

ABSTRACT This article argues that the invention of the European Union (EU) common market and the lifting of national border controls produced a mobility-control vacuum within the EU and its member states. Building on ethnographic research in the German city of Munich and symptomatic policy-paper analysis (2013–2021), it traces the emergence of a new policy field that targets ‘poverty migration’ and ‘benefit fraud’ in this vacuum. This internal border work builds on transformations of the German social system from an ethos of welfare to active labour-market policy. With the classical toolbox of national migration regimes no longer working for intra-EU movers, their mobility rights and right to residence have been increasingly restricted by making economic self-reliance a conditionality of stay and excluding those not engaged in wage labour or self-employment from welfare services. Social policy is used as a tool for controlling mobility, which we refer to as ‘workfare-state borders.' This is because it reinforces the radicalization of the workfare state by either pushing the racialized and migrantized poor into precarious wage labor or depriving them of social protection. This internal border work reconnects meritocratic logics with classical articulations of racism, thus contributing to the finely tuned reinvention of a racial order in Europe.

China's transboundary hydropower development at home and abroad: exploring the regulatory interface between international water law and international economic law

China, located upstream on most of the major transboundary waters shared with vast populations across Asia, is heavily invested in developing hydropower at home and abroad. Some of this hydropower development involves freshwaters that cross national borders raising complex issues in international law, a situation exacerbated by growing economic, environmental, and regional security pressures. In such a context, where conflicts-of-use are almost certain to arise, it is essential to understand the rules that apply so as to enhance opportunities for enhanced transboundary water cooperation. This paper examines the rules of international water law and international economic law that apply to transboundary hydropower development, with a focus on China as one of the key actors in this field. The aim is to examine the regulatory interface of relevant legal frameworks with a focus on China's approach to transboundary hydropower development at home and abroad. While international economic—and more specifically international investment law—is not directly concerned with international water law, host states and foreign investors must be informed, and take into account, the legal obligations governing transboundary waters. China's position as a major water user (at home) and significant investor (abroad) on transboundary waters, makes it a unique case study for exploring the rules of international law that apply in two different regulatory settings. The work examines the rules of law in each of these domains and reveals the inapparent linkages across these seemingly unconnected areas of international regulation.

Transnational conservation to anticipate future plant shifts in Europe

To meet the COP15 biodiversity framework in the European Union (EU), one target is to protect 30% of its land by 2030 through a resilient transnational conservation network. The European Alps are a key hub of this network hosting some of the most extensive natural areas and biodiversity hotspots in Europe. Here we assess the robustness of the current European reserve network to safeguard the European Alps’ flora by 2080 using semi-mechanistic simulations. We first highlight that the current network needs strong readjustments as it does not capture biodiversity patterns as well as our conservation simulations. Overall, we predict a strong shift in conservation need through time along latitudes, and from lower to higher elevations as plants migrate upslope and shrink their distribution. While increasing species, trait and evolutionary diversity, migration could also threaten 70% of the resident flora. In the face of global changes, the future European reserve network will need to ensure strong elevation and latitudinal connections to complementarily protect multifaceted biodiversity beyond national borders.

The Borders of Migrant and Refugee Activism in South Africa

Abstract This article examines the relationship between the activities of civil society organizations (CSOs) on migration and refugee issues with state-making processes and discourses in South Africa, based upon key informant interviews, discourse analysis, and ethnographic research. It argues that this relationship brings attention to the defining and reinforcement of national borders set against the backdrop of the ‘corporate pact’ between the South African government and CSOs that has necessitated public participation in social movements and voluntary associations involved in a range of different xenophobic activities that are legitimized by political parties seeking popularity, and the state. Financial resources operate as ‘material disciplines’ by influencing the kind of problems that are visible, and, in turn, categories that non-state actors like philanthropies, charities, and donors consider worthy of protection. Those affected by shifting categories and their influence on NGO support like Zimbabweans have taken matters into their own hands to counter this novel border from below.

Internet marketing of dietary supplements for improving memory and cognitive abilities

BackgroundThe use of the internet for researching and purchasing dietary supplements (DS) is rapidly increasing, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic influenced people to seek information related to health problems online. However, internet marketing is not subject to strict controls and can potentially mislead consumers. MethodsThe study assessed information obtained through internet search on websites for online sale of 75 DS intended for cognitive improvement and prevention of cognitive degeneration. ResultsThe analysis revealed a wide array of active substances (126), most often three or more being present in one DS (61.3%). Data on auxiliary substances were present in 74.3% of DS, with 92.7% of DS specifying usage instructions. However, information on references (10.7%), mechanism of action (50.7%), pharmacological (9.3%) and toxicological (5.3%) effects, as well as presence or absence of allergens (21.3%), were considerably less represented. Warnings were not provided in 41.3% of DS, while 77.3% had some information on potential adverse/side effects. Claims, as the primary drivers of supplement promotion, were present in all assessed DS, but in case of USA products were not always followed by FDA disclaimer (8.2%), while in case of EU products, as many as 90.9% had at least one unapproved claim. ConclusionStricter regulations for advertising and selling DS are necessary, along with harmonization among countries, as the internet is a global space that transcends national borders and laws. There is a necessity to enhance inspection oversight and a need for public education on recognizing secure and verified information on the internet.

ЗАСОБИ МАСОВОЇ КОМУНІКАЦІЇ ДІАСПОР НАРОДІВ ЄС В УКРАЇНСЬКОМУ МЕДІАПРОСТОРІ

<p><strong><em>The purpose of the study</em></strong><em> is to analyze the means of mass communication of the diasporas of the EU as a component of the media space of Ukraine and highlight the role of the media of national minorities in the aspect of building a multicultural society.</em></p><p><strong><em>Research methodology</em></strong><em>. With the help of methods of analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, comparison, analogy and juxtaposition, the features of the media of the EU diasporas are determined; the historical method was used to study the development of the national minorities’ media; content analysis – to study the media content.</em></p><p><strong><em>Results.</em></strong><em> The majority of Ukrainian media of national minorities, in particular the EU diasporas, arose in the 90s of the last century after the collapse of the USSR in the wake of national uplift. Ethnic communities actively created their own newspapers, magazines, and rarely radio and television. However, all these media faced a lack of funding and only those that had stable support (either foreign or diasporas) have survived to this day. The most important functions of diasporas mass media are the preservation of national traditions, but at the same time, the diasporization of the identity of their target groups, the construction of national communities, which, in the conditions of active development of information and communication technologies, cross local and national borders. The content of most media outlets of EU diasporas differs from the content of Ukrainian media not only in terms of a set of stories and topics: ethnic media outlets create a positive image of an ethnic or diasporic group. That is why it is very important that each national minority is represented in the media space.</em></p><p><strong><em>Novelty.</em></strong><em> A comprehensive study of traditional and new media of the EU diasporas in Ukraine is conducted; theoretical ideas about the media of national minorities are improved.</em></p><p><strong><em>Practical significance.</em></strong> <em>Research materials and results can be used in university courses on the theory and practice of journalism, in media studies special courses.</em></p><p><strong><em>Key words:</em></strong><em> media of EU Diasporas, Ukrainian media space, media of national minorities, multicultural society, traditional and new media.</em></p>

Rhetorical Data Studies

This article by Laurie Gries extends a keynote talk given at the 2022 Nordic Conference on Research in Rhetoric. In this piece, Gries describes a data advocacy project called The Swastika Counter Project that she has been working on for five years to help account for the swastika’s contemporary circulation and consequentiality in the United States. In addition to discussing the digital research method called iconographic tracking that she adapted for this research, Gries introduces a methodology she calls rhetorical data studies, which, she suggests, can be useful for negotiating the rhetorical politics of accountability that are always involved in doing data advocacy work in ethical and just ways. Gries ultimately challenges rhetoricians across both sides of the Atlantic to take up rhetorical data studies to confront the intensification of discrimination, harassment, and intimidation currently being felt within and across local, national, and transnational borders.

Simulation of transportation of acute stroke patients in border regions

Determining the optimal transportation for each stroke patient is critically important to achieve the best possible outcomes. In border regions the next comprehensive stroke center may be just across an international border, but bureaucratic and financial hurdles may prevent a simple transfer to the next stroke center. We hypothesized that in regions close to international borders, patients may benefit from an "open border, closed transfer scenario", meaning that patients in whom a large vessel occlusion (LVO) is detected in the primary stroke center will benefit from a transfer to the nearest stroke center offering endovascular thrombectomy—even if this may be across a national border. We used the Swiss-German–French trinational region as an example for a region with several international borders within close proximity to one another, and compared two feasible scenarios; (a) a “closed borders, open transfer” scenario, where the patient is transported to any center in the same country, (b) an “open border, closed transfer” scenario, where patients are always transported to the nearby primary stroke center first and then to the nearest comprehensive stroke center in either the same or a neighboring country and (c) and “open borders, open transfer” scenario. The outcome of interest was the predicted probability of acute ischemic stroke patients to achieve a good outcome using a conditional probability model which predicts the likelihood of excellent outcome (modified Rankin scale score of 0–1 at 90 days post-stroke) for patients with suspected LVO. Results were modeled in a virtual map from which the ideal transport concept emerged. For an exemplary LVO stroke patient in Germany, the probability of a good outcome was higher in an open border, closed transfer scenario than with closed borders, open transfer (33.1 vs. 30.1%). Moreover, time to EVT would decrease from 232 min in the first scenario to 169 min in an open border, closed transfer scenario. The catchment area of the University Hospital Basel was almost double the size in an open border, closed transfer scenario compared to closed borders (1674 km2 vs. 2897 km2) and would receive transfers from 3 primary stroke centers in other countries (2 in Germany and 1 in France). Stroke patients showed a higher likelihood of good outcome in the “open border” scenarios without transfer restrictions to a specific healthcare system. This probably has implications for stroke treatment in all border regions where EVT eligible stroke patients may benefit from transport to the closest EVT capable center whenever possible, regardless of whether this hospital is located in the same or a neighboring country/jurisdiction.

Cultural tightness–looseness and inter‐regional mergers and acquisitions: Evidence from China

AbstractWe investigated the role of culture in inter‐regional mergers and acquisitions (M&As) within national borders, using a dataset that includes M&As conducted by Chinese listed firms from 2005 to 2019. Our research provides compelling evidence that the likelihood of an acquirer initiating a merger proposal – and the subsequent probability of reaching an agreement – decreases as the cultural tightness gap between the acquiring and target firms widens. Furthermore, we found that this negative impact of cultural tightness distance is more pronounced in non‐state‐owned firms and firms led by younger CEOs.

Systematic Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 at Xiamen International Airport and the Port of Xiamen Reveals the Importance of Incoming Travelers in Lineage Diversity.

Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still a threat to human health globally despite the World Health Organization (WHO) announcing the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 at national borders would be helpful in understanding the epidemics of novel imported variants and updating local strategies for disease prevention and treatment. This study focuses on the surveillance of imported SARS-CoV-2 variants among travelers entering Xiamen International Airport and the Port of Xiamen from February to August 2023. A total of 97 imported SARS-CoV-2 sequences among travelers from 223 cases collected from 12 different countries and regions were identified by real-time RT-PCR. Next-generation sequencing was used to generate high-quality complete sequences for phylogenetic and population dynamic analysis. The study revealed a dominant shift in variant distribution, in which the XBB subvariant (XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, XBB.1.9, XBB.2.3, and EG.5.1) accounted for approximately 88.8% of the sequenced samples. In detail, clades 23D and 23E accounted for 26.2% and 21.4% of the sequenced samples, respectively, while clades 23B (13.6%) and 23F (10.7%) took the third and fourth spots in the order of imported sequences, respectively. Additionally, the XBB.2.3 variants were first identified in imported cases from the mainland of Xiamen, China on 27 February 2023. The spatiotemporal analyses of recent viral genome sequences from a limited number of travelers into Xiamen provide valuable insights into the situation surrounding SARS-CoV-2 and highlight the importance of sentinel surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the national border screening of incoming travelers, which serves as an early warning system for the presence of highly transmissible circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages.

Genomic Epidemiology of African Swine Fever Virus Identified in Domestic Pig Farms in South Korea during 2019–2021

African swine fever (ASF), a contagious viral disease, poses a significant threat to the global swine industry. In South Korea, ASF outbreaks have occurred since 2019, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology and genetic characterization of the circulating African swine fever viruses (ASFVs). We obtained 21 ASFV isolates from domestic pig farms and analyzed their whole-genome sequences using the Illumina MiniSeq. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the maximum likelihood and time-scaled approaches to determine the genetic relationships and evolutionary dynamics of the Korean ASFV isolates. Comparative analysis of the 21 ASFV genomes with the reference strain Georgia 2007/1 revealed that while Korean isolates shared 11 mutations, they also had 22 discrete mutations, including single nucleotide polymorphisms and insertion/deletion polymorphisms (Indels). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all Korean isolates were within the Asian subgroup of ASFV genotype II but were further divided into at least three distinct subclusters. Spatiotemporal analysis indicated multiple introductions of ASFVs into South Korea, crossing the national border with North Korea. In addition, we observed putative self-recombination between MGF 505-9R and MGF 505-10R genes in the ASFV/Korea/Pig/Inje2/2021 strain. Our findings provide insights into the genetic variations and evolution of ASFVs on South Korean pig farms from 2019 to 2021, uncovering multiple introductions of ASFVs across the national border, and highlighting the need for enhanced disease control strategies.

Restricted Access to Remembrance: Problematic Usages of Industrial Memories in Belfast's Titanic Quarter

AbstractThe paper addresses the contemporary usages of collective memory in the Titanic Quarter's project in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In the wake of the Good Friday Agreement, elected officials proposed urban revitalisation policies that aimed to mitigate the effects of deindustrialisation and the ethnonational conflict. On the old shipyard wastelands, public authorities were relying on the redevelopment of the built environment to suggest a shared urbanity but also a shared past, a connection with a common space, mobilising the myths and memories of the Titanic to achieve this. Yet, in a globalised world where memory increasingly surpasses national borders, it bears into question who is the targeted audience of this revitalised urban memory? Through careful observations in the neighbourhood and its flagship museum, the paper aims to criticise the use and manipulation of a conflictual working‐class memory to sidestep Northern Ireland's sectarian divide.

The Importance and Components of Economic Cooperation among Red Sea Countries

In an era marked by interconnectedness and global interdependence, the Red Sea region stands as a pivotal nexus linking diverse nations with shared opportunities and challenges. The importance of economic cooperation among Red Sea countries cannot be overstated, as it not only holds the potential to bolster individual national economies but also to foster regional stability, enhance sustainable development, and create a pathway towards mutual prosperity. This strategic waterway, teeming with economic potential, serves as a conduit for trade, investment, and collaboration, urging nations along its shores to recognize the mutual benefits of collective economic endeavors. In this dynamic context, fostering collaboration among Red Sea countries emerges not only as an economic imperative but also as a diplomatic and geopolitical necessity, reflecting the growing recognition that shared interests transcend national borders and can be best pursued through collective action. This paper offers a general literature review on the topic of the importance and components of economic cooperation among Red Sea countries. This literature review synthesizes existing research on the importance and components of economic cooperation among Red Sea countries. The Red Sea region, characterized by its strategic geopolitical position, is home to a diverse group of nations with unique economic challenges and opportunities. Scholars have extensively explored the potential benefits of fostering economic collaboration in this region, emphasizing the crucial role it plays in promoting regional stability, sustainable development, and mutual prosperity.

Resource dynamics and economic expansion: Unveiling the asymmetric effects of natural resources and FDI on economic growth with a lens on energy efficiency

Sustainable development recognizes the crucial role of a sustainable environment as a foundational component. Addressing climate change is acknowledged as a global challenge that requires a collective approach to effectively combat this issue. While developed economies often experience a higher prevalence of this problem, it remains essential to develop a strategy that goes beyond national borders in managing natural resources and their influence on sustainable economic progress. Hence, this research inspects the linkage of natural resources, FDI, and economic growth in the USA from 1990 to 2022. The study also included energy efficiency as a control variable. Pertinent time series procedures such as DF-GLS and Phillips-Perron tests of unit root specification while Johansen cointegration test for equilibrium and Bootstrap quantile regression for primary estimates have been utilized in the research. The research also included robustness check analysis through FMOLS, DOLS, and CCR as parametric procedures, while simple quantile regression as a non-parametric robustness method. The outcomes reveal that data of the variables are static at differences in both methods and long-run equilibriums in the variables. The empirical outcomes suggest that natural resources are asymmetric with economic expansion in the USA. Natural gas rents positively impact economic expansion, leading to resource blessings, while mineral resources have a resource curse in the economy. Moreover, energy efficiency and FDI stimulate economic growth across all quantiles. The robustness check protocols follow the same trajectory and found that outcomes are robust, valid, and reliable in both linear and non-linear methods. It is recommended that NRR be expanded and channelized into the real sectors of the economy, along with the encouraging role of foreign inflows and investments in energy efficiency to attain sustainable development in the USA.

Dancing with the devil: the use and perceptions of academic journal ranking lists in the management field

Purpose This study explores the use and perceptions of scholarly journal ranking lists in the management field based on stakeholders’ lived experience.Design/methodology/approach The results are based on a survey of 463 active knowledge management and intellectual capital researchers.Findings Journal ranking lists have become an integral part of contemporary management academia: 33% and 37% of institutions and individual scholars employ journal ranking lists, respectively. The Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) Journal Quality List and the UK Academic Journal Guide (AJG) by the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) are the most frequently used national lists, and their influence has spread far beyond the national borders. Some institutions and individuals create their own journal rankings.Practical implications Management researchers employ journal ranking lists under two conditions: mandatory and voluntary. The forced mode of use is necessary to comply with institutional pressure that restrains the choice of target outlets. At the same time, researchers willingly consult ranking lists to advance their personal career, maximize their research exposure, learn about the relative standing of unfamiliar journals, and direct their students. Scholars, academic administrators, and policymakers should realize that journal ranking lists may serve as a useful tool when used appropriately, in particular when individuals themselves decide how and for what purpose to employ them to inform their research practices.Originality/value The findings reveal a journal ranking lists paradox: management researchers are aware of the limitations of ranking lists and their deleterious impact on scientific progress; however, they generally find journal ranking lists to be useful and employ them.