National Security Research Articles

How free trade pilot zones enhance agricultural green total factor productivity? Theory and evidence from China

IntroductionGiven the dual constraints of limited resources and environmental concerns, achieving green development in agriculture helps to enhance national food security, resource security, and ecological security.MethodsUtilizing panel data sourced from 30 provinces within China, spanning the years from 2001 to 2021, this paper employs the super-efficiency Slack-Based Measure (SBM) model and the Global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) index to measure agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP). It utilizes methods such as the stepwise Differences in Differences (DID), mediation effect models, and moderating effect models to systematically explore the impact of the implementation of Free Trade Pilot Zones (FTPZs) on AGTFP and its mechanisms of action.ResultsThe study finds: (1) Establishing FTPZs significantly boosts AGTFP, indicating a profound positive influence; (2) The promotional effect of FTPZs on AGTFP is stronger in the eastern and central regions, as well as in major grain-producing areas; (3) FTPZs may enhance AGTFP by promoting the effect of agricultural structure upgrading, i.e., a transmission mechanism exists from FTPZs to the agricultural structure upgrading effect to AGTFP; (4) The agricultural scale effect plays a positive moderating role in the impact of FTPZs on AGTFP.DiscussionIt is advisable to optimize agricultural measures related to FTPZs, promote agricultural structural upgrading and scale enhancement, adapt strategies to local conditions to advance green agricultural development, and thereby promote the coordinated development of FTPZs and AGTFP.

Meniscus-Guided 3D Nanoprinting Technology for Quantum Device Assembly

The future we envision is always driven by technological innovation, and among the most promising fields is quantum technology. Ultra-fast computing, highly precise sensors, and unbreakable communication networks, once confined to science fiction, are now becoming reality. At the heart of realizing these advancements is 3D nanoprinting technology. This technique, which meticulously builds structures at the atomic scale, is essential for assembling quantum devices. In particular, meniscus-guided 3D nanoprinting is gaining attention as a revolutionary method, enabling extreme precision that was previously unattainable through traditional approaches, accelerating the commercialization and widespread use of quantum devices. However, the significance of quantum technology extends beyond mere technical achievements. It is also emerging as a key factor in national competitiveness and security. With intense global competition in areas like quantum computing, encryption, and sensing, research and investment to bridge the technological gap with leading nations are more crucial than ever. This article explores the principles and potential applications of meniscus-guided 3D nanoprinting, highlighting why this technology is poised to play a pioneering role in the quantum revolution.

ENTROPY BASED EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF EDUCATION ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In contemporary economic landscapes, effective managerial decision-making requires serious justifications often facilitated by information technologies. The article proposes the application of the foundational principles from information theory and entropy to determine the correlation between education and economic development. This research employs entropy methodology to explore the correlations and implications of these multifaceted domains, drawing insights from a range of global indices. By analyzing data from indices such as the Human Development Index, we investigate the relationship between average years of education and entropy values, shedding light on the diversity and standardization of human capital systems across nations. Moreover, economic indexes, encapsulating factors such as economic freedom and innovation, provide critical insights into the vibrancy and resilience of national economies. Through the lens of the Global Innovation Index, we explore how countries with higher levels of economic freedom and innovation efficiency exhibit less diversity in economic approaches and innovation strategies, leading to a reduction in entropy values. By examining entropy values in conjunction with innovation indicators, such as research and development expenditure and patent applications, we uncover patterns and trends indicative of the diversity or standardization of innovation strategies across countries. Additionally, cybersecurity emerges as a critical dimension of national security and resilience, with implications for economic well-being and societal trust. Through the National Cybersecurity Index, we assess the level of diversity and uncertainty in cybersecurity landscapes, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in safeguarding against emerging threats and reducing entropy values. Ultimately, this research contributes to the discourse on sustainable development and resilience in an interconnected world. By identifying specific challenges and opportunities within education, economy, innovation, and cybersecurity domains, it facilitates informed decision-making and strategic interventions to promote inclusive growth and societal well-being on a global scale.

A Bibliometric Literature Review on Trends in the Internationalization of Higher Education

In recent years, the internationalization of higher education has become a critical theme, reflecting global interconnectedness and the increasing mobility of students and academics. This study aims to identify and analyze trends in internationalization research from 2015 to 2024. Utilizing a bibliometric analysis of 9,180 articles and 44,000 keywords from Web of Science and Scopus databases, the research synthesizes developments in nine key fields over the past decade. Methods include data cleaning, keyword determination, and the use of Excel for data processing and analysis. The results reveal significant progress in understanding the complexities of internationalization, such as student mobility, societal and cultural integration, educational methods, and quality assurance. The study highlights the accelerated role of digital technology due to the COVID-19 pandemic and emerging national security issues. Conclusions offer new theoretical and practical insights into the role of internationalization in higher education outcomes and predict future trends. The findings have significant implications for policy-making, institutional strategies, and future research directions. This research contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of past trends and suggesting directions for future studies, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts from educational institutions, governments, and international organizations. Emphasis is placed on inclusivity and sustainability, with a call for innovative strategies to address emerging challenges and leverage new opportunities in the field of higher education internationalization.

Методы противодействия информационно-психологическим диверсиям и «вестернизации» культуры как один из аспектов обеспечения ментальной безопасности

The article is devoted to the study of information and psychological sabotage and the «Westernization» of culture, which are considered as a threat to the mental security of modern Russia. The main focus is on considering those measures that can minimize the consequences of this threat. The purpose of the study is to develop and propose measures aimed at overcoming the negative consequences of the threat to nation-al security, called information and psychological diversions and the «Westernization» of culture. The work uses a systematization method, a systematic method, as well as a structural approach. Mental security is presented as an important part of military security, in which the main object of attacks is the consciousness and identity of a person as a representative of a separate nation. The study provides definitions of the basic concepts, reveals their essence and role in the overall security system, suggests various initiatives to counter information and psychological diversions and the «Westernization» of culture, and also provides a list of competencies of subjects of mental security from among the institutions of government and civil society of Russia aimed at preventing the negative consequences of the threat under consideration.

Rising Threat of AI-Driven Cybersecurity Attacks: Implications for National Security

Rising Threat of AI-Driven Cybersecurity Attacks: Implications for National Security

The Russian language and state language policy in the formation of modern Russian civilization

This article examines the meaning and role of the Russian people unity, the role of communication in society in the state language, which is the fundamental basis of the civil self-identity of Russians. The article also substantiates the role of Russian language policy in four aspects (educational, scientific, cultural and legal) in order to preserve language as the cultural heritage of the nation in the formation of Russian civilization. The article emphasizes that the ability of the language to preserve the history, culture, and identity of the people for a long time ensures and maintains the state of national security and its spiritual unity at a high level.

Транспарентность и политические риски: вызовы и перспективы для российской государственной системы

The article analyzes the problems of political risks and transparency of state power, paying special attention to domestic and foreign research in this area. The author points out the insufficient systematization and understanding of political risks in Russian science. Special attention is paid to the concept of transpar-ency as a key principle of the functioning of modern government. The article examines examples of legal regulation of transparency in countries such as Australia, the Netherlands and New Zealand. The author emphasizes the importance of creating a balanced system where transparency must be combined with the need to protect national security. In addition, the article discusses the problem of "double standards" in international politics, considered as an instrument of information warfare and a means of manipulating public consciousness.

Self-judgment in international law: Between judicialization and pushback

Abstract The legally binding unilateral application of norms holds potential for abuse. Nonetheless, self-judgment is alive and kicking. Self-judgment language commonly features in treaties and states frequently invoke their authority to ‘self-judge’ sensitive issues, such as matters related to national security, before international judicial bodies. In many of these cases, the controversy whether a norm has a self-judgment quality or not has been decisive for the outcome of the dispute. Yet, the meaning and consequences of self-judgment remain contested. This article develops self-judgment as the authoritative application of international legal norms by states. It posits that steps towards the judicialization of self-judgment by judicial bodies have given rise to state efforts to preserve unfettered discretion. Notably, states have responded to attempts by judicial bodies to gain authority over the application of self-judgment by drafting provisions more explicitly. This dynamic continues to make self-judgment a site of judicialization and pushback. The only way to understand the meaning, limitations and development of self-judgment is by studying this process. Doing so conceptually refines self-judgment and allows for more meaningful references to the notion in practice.

Comparing Elastocaloric Cooling and Desiccant Wheel Dehumidifiers for Atmospheric Water Harvesting

Approximately two billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water, negatively impacting national security, hygiene, and agriculture. Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is the conversion of ambient humidity into clean water; however, conventional dehumidification is energy-intensive. Improvement in AWH may be achieved with elastocaloric cooling, using temperature-sensitive materials in active thermoregulation. Potential benefits, compared to conventional desiccant wheel designs, include substantial reductions in energy use, size, and complexity. A nickel–titanium (NiTi) elastocaloric water harvester was designed and compared with a desiccant wheel design under controlled conditions of relative humidity, air volume, and power. In a 30 min interval, the NiTi device harvested more water on average at 0.18 ± 0.027 mL/WH, compared to the 0.1567 ± 0.023 mL/WH of the desiccant wheel harvester. Moreover, the NiTi harvester required half the power input and was thermoregulated more efficiently. Future work will focus on mechanical design parameter optimization. Elastocaloric cooling is a promising advancement in dehumidification, making AWH more economical and feasible.

Обеспечение антитеррористической защищенности как мера противодействия терроризму

This article discusses the topic of ensuring anti-terrorism security as a measure to counter terrorism. Var-ious types of security are traditionally the subject of research in political science and public law sciences. The article examines the social relations that arise in the sphere of ensuring the national security of Russia. The purpose of the work was to establish the specifics of the impact of private legal means in ensuring security. Citizens and organizations, with their own efforts and means, ensure the protection of objects of civil rights – life, health, property. This activity differs from the implementation of the functions of law enforcement agencies not only by the impossibility of using coercive (public law) measures of influence, but also by more “narrow” objects of protection. A way for non-governmental organizations and individuals to participate in ensuring national security in general and anti-terrorism protection in particular is the use of private legal means to protect the relevant objects of civil rights. However, the means provided for by law have not been properly researched and have significant shortcomings in legal regulation. The author's new view on the problems of ensuring national security can provide the basis for conducting other private law and complex studies.

CORRUPTION RISKS IN THE CONTEXT OF REGIONAL FINANCIAL SECURITY: ANALYSIS BASED ON KOHONEN NEURAL NETWORKS

During the war, threats to national security related to illegal financial transactions with the aggressor country, circumvention of sanctions, fraud in the distribution of investment and humanitarian aid, earmarked funds for the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure, and new schemes for legalizing dirty money are becoming more acute. Therefore, the study of the risks of illegal financial transactions at the regional level in Ukraine is a primary step towards understanding the specifics of corruption, identifying the main factors that shape them, and developing targeted measures to overcome them. To analyze corruption risks in the regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv, this article uses a base of 10 indicators covering key aspects of financial support, economic activity, public opinion, trust in government, and digital transformation to provide a holistic picture of regional security and development. Clustering by the level of corruption risk, which was implemented using Kohonen's self-organizing maps, allowed to identify 4 groups of Ukrainian regions with similar characteristics: Cluster 1 (Vinnytsia, Lviv and Ternopil regions) – regions with a high level of development and medium corruption risks; Cluster 2 (Volyn, Dnipropetrovs'k, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi and Chernihiv regions) – regions with an average level of development and moderate corruption risks; Cluster 3 (Zakarpattia, Kirovohrad, and Rivne regions) - regions with an average level of development and problems in governance; Cluster 4 (Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, Kherson, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi regions and the city of Kyiv) – regions with high corruption risks. The implemented clustering facilitates the development of individualized and targeted anti-corruption strategies for each group of regions. The results of the study allow us to focus anti-corruption efforts on the most problematic areas and develop targeted programs to effectively reduce corruption risks.

Astro-Politics: US-India Strategic Cooperation in Space and its Implications for China (2000-2024)

The Article aims to investigate the strategic purpose of space as a new battlefield among the great powers of the 21st century. The US sees China as its great adversary in space hence its cooperation with India for strategic purposes to engage China which is posing a national security threat to China. Similarly, increasing Indian space capabilities is also misbalancing the pendulum of power in South Asia. The offensive and defensive approaches from the broader framework of Neo-Realism have been employed to interpret the whole power competition. Qualitative research methodology grounded in post-positivism has been employed. Data would be gathered through the help of primary & secondary sources and document study would also be utilized for data analysis. The findings of the study are expected to show that an arms race in space can cause space warfare among major global powers.

Bioanalysis of antisense oligonucleotides: Techniques, challenges, regulatory considerations, and future perspectives

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are a powerful class of therapeutics designed to target RNA sequences and regulate gene expression, offering promising treatment avenues for various genetic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and viral infections. The bioanalysis of ASOs presents unique challenges due to their distinct chemical and biological characteristics, requiring specialized analytical methods and regulatory oversight. This review explores the latest methodologies in ASO bioanalysis, assesses the current regulatory environment, and considers future directions, particularly in the context of critical and emerging technologies (CETs) relevant to national security strategies. ASOs, classified under biotechnology, play a crucial role in gene expression modulation and protein regulation. By integrating insights from CETs, this review emphasizes the strategic significance of ASO bioanalysis in driving advancements in medical science and contributing to national security.

Depopulation and Limitations of Demographic Statistics in the Republic of Belarus

The article considers the problems in the demographic processes of the Republic of Belarus. The fluctuations in the modern demographic "waves" of Belarus are analyzed. It is argued that the reproductive processes of the Republic are characterized by changes in the depopulation spiral. Concern about the prospects for its demographic development is substantiated. The problems of the state demographic policy in overcoming depopulation are noted. The state of the Belarusian demographic science in developing approaches to the implementation of demographic policy is highlighted. A characteristic of management decisions is given, both their positive and negative role in the implementation of demographic policy. The significance of the Concept of National Security of the Republic of Belarus and the role of ensuring demographic security in it are shown. In the light of the Concept of National Security of the country, the consequences of restrictions on statistical information for demographic science and demographic policy of Belarus are studied. The role of demographic information in ensuring the national security of the Republic is revealed. The results of the mechanism for recounting the population from the results of the 2019 population census are disclosed. Methodological approaches to calculating the indicators of the reproductive situation of Belarus in 2020-2023 are presented. in conditions of limited demographic statistics.

A Labyrinth of Public Information

Given the proliferation of electronic records in government agencies, public records are an increasingly valuable source of information for research, advocacy, and public oversight. Using an information management framework, this article reviews practices by four organizations in the US (National Security Archive, University of Washington Center for Human Rights, MuckRock, and Reclaim the Records) to request, manage, and use the information obtained through public access requests. Through case studies, findings pinpoint key obstacles and opportunities to strengthen research and advocacy using Freedom of Information laws, and how users of public records can shift from individual one-time pursuits of records to broader, ongoing and collaborative initiatives.

THE POTENTIAL AND PROSPECTS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING: ISSUES OF SECURITY AND DEFENSE

The subject of the study is the most promising technological solutions using artificial intelligence and global trends in their use by the armed forces of technologically advanced countries of the world. The main areas of AI technologies application by a number of countries (USA, China, and Israel) are identified. The article is an attempt to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current world situation in the field of determining the prospects and dangers of using AI technologies in the field of defense and in the area of ensuring national security of modern states.

ECONOMIC SECURITY CHALLENGES TO PAKISTAN DURING POST PANDEMIC ERA

Pakistan’s economy has faced many challenges since the inception of Pakistan as an independent state. The economy of country was largely dependent on agrarian resources during the initial decades and then industrial bases afterwards. During the past three decades it the economy of Pakistan depends on loans and financial aids from international financial institutions such as, IMF along the industrial growth. The world economy slowed down after the pandemic and it also had consequences on Pakistan economy. Covid-19 caused major disruption in Pakistan economy. As, Before pandemic the GDP growth rate was 2.50% in 2019 and it fell in negative point -1.27% during the fiscal year 2020. The economic challenges to Pakistan raised during pandemic era such as its GDP growth rate decreased in negative points, its fiscal debt increased to 12.74% in 2020 as compare to 2019. Unemployment, shut down of small businesses, increase in job displacement, fiscal deficit, decline in foreign direct investment are the few challenges to name. Therefore, the economic security of Pakistan had faced many challenges during the post pandemic era. The drastic impact of covid-19 forced government to take immediate steps to counter economic challenges. The first national security policy of Pakistan in this regard made economic indicators as a challenge and made economic security a part of national policy

Political Vigilantism in Ghana: A Threat to National Security and Democratic Processes

Political Vigilantism in Ghana: A Threat to National Security and Democratic Processes

Государственное управление национальной экономикой в условиях геополитической нестабильности

We consider an economic system consisting of two sectors: public (including municipal) and private. It is shown that in the structure of the economic system the public sector occupies most of the economic space. It has been established that the public sector is, as a rule, less efficient than the private sector, but is capable, unlike the private sector, of stably providing the Russian state with the products necessary to maintain national security. Based on statistical data on economic efficiency in 2023 and the volume of budget financing of the Russian military-industrial complex in 2022–2024, it was concluded that the economic model of “military Keynesianism” is being implemented in the Russian Federation. Destructive endogenous factors have been identified, including a defect in the institutional structure that reduces the effectiveness of the implemented economic model and certain problematic aspects of the functioning of a mixed economy. Some proposals have been made for the transformation of the national economy in the post-crisis period.