Member Nations Research Articles

An Analysis Comparing Aggression Levels among Female National Volleyball and Netball Athletes in Sri Lanka

Aggression is an important psychological component that cannot be overlooked when it comes to increasing physical performance, particularly in invasion sports. This research was conducted with the intention of determining the extent of the violent behavior exhibited by the female national netball and volleyball players belonging to Sri Lanka. For the purpose of this study, fifteen female volleyball players and ten female netball players from national teams participated. The data was collected through the use of a standardized and systematic questionnaire, and the findings were analyzed through the application of statistical analysis using SPSS. A two-sample t-test and descriptive statistics were utilized in order to conduct the analysis of the data. The study found that the mean aggressiveness scores for the two national teams were 84.06 and 88.9, respectively. These values were based on aggression. According to the findings of the study, the levels of hostility exhibited by the female players on the country's national teams for netball and volleyball did not differ substantially from one another (p-value = 0.577). According to the findings of the study, the levels of aggressiveness exhibited by both teams were satisfactory, and there was no obvious difference in the levels of aggression exhibited by the female national members of Sri Lanka's netball and volleyball teams. An examination of the psychological situations of athletes and the implementation of strategies to optimize player psychology in order to increase athletic performance are both highlighted by the findings, which show the relevance of these two aspects.

Continuum of care to advance women as leaders in male‐dominated industries

AbstractWomen who enter professions that have previously been male‐dominated often struggle to rise through ranks to leadership positions. Herein, we present the findings of a 12‐month cross‐sector intervention focused on embedding practices into organizations to create an inclusive organizational environment that fostered the development of women leaders. The intervention focused on three male‐dominated sectors, sport, surgery and trades. Managing the intervention was an Advisory Group that comprised researchers, and leaders from a national member Association and Organization within each sector. The Advisory Group's goal was to provide support and guidance to assist Organizations with the task of changing and challenging their values toward a feminist orientation. Post‐intervention interviews were conducted with women leaders and Advisory Group Members, to examine how Organizations can build their capacity to embed practices and policies to encourage women as leaders. Extending on a conceptualization of continuum of care across three focus areas we discuss how capabilities were affirmed through visible and accessible career pathways; the empowering potential of mentoring and networking; and creating cultures of belonging through addressing unconscious bias.

The Role of European Union in Refugee Crisis on Belarusian Border – European Union in 2021 - 2022

This article aims to analyze the role of the European Union in handling the refugee crisis at the Belarusian-European Union border in 2021-2022. The refugee crisis at the Belarusian-European Union border poses significant challenges for the European Union in various aspects, such as politics, security, and humanity. This research uses a qualitative approach and is then analyzed to explain the evaluation of the European Union's policies, responses, and strategies in responding to this crisis. Through an in-depth study of the policies and actions taken by the European Union, this article outlines the European Union's response to the refugee crisis on the Belarus – European Union border. This includes diplomatic efforts, humanitarian assistance, and security strategies implemented by the European Union to address problems arising from the crisis. In addition, this article also analyzes the challenges faced by the European Union in dealing with this refugee crisis, including coordination between member countries and internal political consequences. This research found that the role of the European Union in the refugee crisis on the Belarus-European Union border is in the form of providing financial assistance to refugees trapped in the border area. The European Union has also facilitated the Schengen forum, which will be held in 2022. The European Union has also closed its border areas due to the interests of national member countries with direct borders, such as Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. The European Union also imposed sanctions on Belarus because it was deemed responsible for the crisis that occurred.

Social Diversity on Corporate Boards in a Country Torn by Civil War

AbstractWe examine how social diversity and inclusiveness on corporate boards affect corporate performance and monitoring in Sri Lanka, a country subject to decades of polarization, civil war, and even genocide. Barely more than a decade after the civil war, we find that board social diversity on the basis of ethnicity, religion, language, gender, and nationality of the board members is positively related to corporate performance, both in terms of stock market performance and accounting returns, and to corporate financial stability. The main positive effects of social diversity derive from ethno-linguistic inclusiveness. The results are confirmed by an instrumental variable approach that addresses endogeneity issues. We find no evidence that inter-personal and moral conflicts or communication problems among board members negatively affect firm performance.

Cheap Tweets?: Crisis Signaling in the Age of Twitter

Abstract World leaders are increasingly turning to social media to engage in crisis signaling. This raises important questions about the effects of emerging communication technologies on international politics. In particular, are threats issued via social media seen as more or less credible than those issued through traditional channels such as government press releases? Using survey experiments fielded both on unique samples of foreign policy experts in the United States, India, and Singapore and on US public samples, we find that threat medium generally generates no significant difference in perceived credibility among national security experts and members of the public. Put differently, tweeted threats are not seen as “cheaper talk” than threats issued through more traditional channels. This project extends work on crisis signaling, elite decision-making, and the domestic politics of international relations by taking into account an increasingly common technology.

A Study of Global Trade War and Its Impact on Indian Economy

A Study of Global Trade War and Its Impact on Indian Economy

Sustainable transport – development and goals

Sustainable development is observed worldwide, and one of the most affected fields is the transport sector. Sustainability brings challenges that must be overcome to achieve high safety and comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By the end of 2030, United Nations members must achieve the assumed sustainability level. This paper investigates whether it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions completely, especially in the transport sector. The paper focuses on the challenges to obtaining a high sustainability level, as defined by the United Nations. The examples of sustainability in rail and road transport were analysed and described. Results show the benefits, concerns, and problems of the described solutions.

The Global Anesthesia Workforce Survey: Updates and Trends in the Anesthesia Workforce.

There is a large global deficit of anesthesia providers. In 2016, the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) conducted a survey to count the number of anesthesia providers worldwide. Much work has taken place since then to strengthen the anesthesia health workforce. This study updates the global count of anesthesia providers. Between 2021 and 2023, an electronic survey was sent to national professional societies of physician anesthesia providers (PAPs), nurse anesthetists, and other nonphysician anesthesia providers (NPAPs). Data included number of providers and trainees, proportion of females, and limited intensive care unit (ICU) capacity data. Descriptive statistics were calculated by country, World Bank income group, and World Health Organization (WHO) region. Provider density is reported as the number of providers per 100,000 population. Responses were obtained for 172 of 193 United Nations (UN) member countries. The global provider density was 8.8 (PAP 6.6 NPAP 2.3). Seventy-six countries had a PAP density <5, whereas 66 countries had a total provider density <5. PAP density increased everywhere except for high- and low-income countries and the African region. The overall size of the global anesthesia workforce has increased over time, although some countries have experienced a decrease. Population growth and differences in which provider types that are counted can have an important impact on provider density. More work is needed to define appropriate metrics for measuring changes in density, to describe anesthesia cadres, and to improve workforce data collection processes. Effort to scale up anesthesia provider training must urgently continue.

ESPRAS Survey: National and European Societies for Plastic Surgeons.

The European Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (ESPRAS) comprises 40 national societies across Europe. In addition to ESPRAS, there are 8 different European Plastic Surgery societies representing Plastic Surgeons in Europe. The 4th European Leadership Forum (ELF) of ESPRAS, held under the motto "Stronger together in Europe" in Munich in 2023, aimed to collect and disseminate information regarding the national member societies of ESPRAS and European societies for Plastic Surgeons. The purpose was to identify synergies and redundancies and promote improved cooperation and exchange to enhance coordinated decision-making at the European level. An online survey was conducted regarding the organisational structures, objectives and challenges of national and European societies for Plastic Surgeons in Europe. This survey was distributed to official representatives (Presidents, Vice Presidents and General Secretaries) and delegates of national and European societies at the ELF meeting. Missing information was completed using data obtained from the official websites of the respective European societies. Preliminary results were discussed during the 4th ELF meeting in Munich in March 2023. The ESPRAS survey included 22 national and 9 European Plastic Surgery societies representing more than 7000 Plastic Surgeons in Europe. Most national societies consist of less than 500 full members (median 182 members (interquartile range (IQR) 54-400); n=22). European societies, which covered the full spectrum or subspecialities, differed in membership types and congress cycles, with some requiring applications by individuals and others including national societies. The main purposes of the societies include research, representation against other disciplines, specialisation and education as well as more individual goals like patient care and policy regulation. This ESPRAS survey offers key insights into the structures, requirements and challenges of national and European societies for Plastic Surgeons, highlighting the relevance of ongoing close exchange between the societies to foster professional advancement and reduce redundancies. Future efforts of the ELF will continue to further explore strategies for enhancing collaboration and harmonisation within the European Plastic Surgery landscape.

An Interview with Cheryl Bryce: Decolonizing Place for Indigenous Food and Land Sovereignty

On February 4th, 2023, Jeff Ganohalidoh Corntassel spoke with Cheryl Bryce, Songhees Nation member and knowledge-keeper who focuses on land and Indigenous food sovereignty. She founded and continues to lead the lək̓ʷəŋən Community Tool Shed, an initiative that brings people together to decolonize the land and reinstate indigenous food systems. The following conversation covers kwetlal (camas) food systems, traditional land management, and sharing knowledge.

Sport, diplomacy, and regionalism in Southeast Asia: the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and ASEAN

The biennial Southeast Asian or SEA Games, a regional sport mega-event modeled on the Olympic and Asian Games, were established by Thailand in 1959, and since then have been conducted 32 times across 10 of the region’s 11 countries. This article examines how this understudied event has operated as a forum for diplomatic representation, negotiation and communication in Southeast Asia. We make three key arguments: (1) the SEA Games have provided member countries with a means to signal national progress and membership of the regional community, as well as to define and delineate this region; (2) the SEA Games have evolved parallel to the region’s political grouping, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), but with important differences as well as similarities; and (3) the regional perspective of the SEA Games offers insights that blur the distinction in recent scholarship between traditional ‘sports diplomacy’ (foregrounding the state) and ‘international-sport-as-diplomacy’ (foregrounding non-state actors).

Preface

PrefaceThe current volume contains the part B of the Proceedings of the Sustainable, Clean and Emerging Energy Technologies Conference (SCEETC) 2023 held at the National Centre for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, from 23rd to 28th July 2023 under the Chairmanship of Prof. O. V. Ekechukwu.The theme of the Conference was, “Clean Energy Systems for Net-Zero Emission Targets”. It featured a Keynote Speaker and 5 Lead (Plenary) Speakers selected across the continents of Africa, America and Europe. About 85 Technical papers were received from scientists across the globe but 77 quality papers were selected after the initial peer reviews for presentation in the conference. Out of the papers presented 26 were selected for journal publication (part B proceedings) while the rest were published in the Conference’s regular proceedings (part A). Both the online and physical participants discussed current trends in Renewable energy technologies towards providing a net-zero emission for energy and environmental sustainability.We sincerely appreciate the support of the under-listed people who facilitated the success of the conference:– The Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Prof. Charles A. Igwe (FAS), the Chief Host– The Acting Director of the National Centre for Energy Research and Development, (NCERD), University of Nigeria, Engr Dr Izuchukwu F. Okafor, for providing the conference venue and other technical supports.– The Scientific Reviewers for ensuring the delivery of quality manuscripts.– The distinguished Keynote Speaker, Prof. Dr, Solomon Agbo; Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Germany– All participants for their attendance and quality presentations.– Members of the International Advisory Committee, for the technical advice– The Organizing Committee members from different universities for their immense efforts, commitment, and diligence in accomplishing the conference and its proceedings.List of the National and Local Organizing Committee Members are available in this pdf.

The Role of Small United Nations Member States

This article outlines the situation of small member states of the United Nations which make up the majority of the membership. It shows that smallness is far from insignificance. Small UN members are active, diligent, and necessary partners for significant member states in the endeavor to get resolutions through in the General Assembly. They work in close collaboration with and assist one another, share insightful knowledge and through networking can cover the entire field of activities of the United Nations. Yet being short staffed, getting through valuable information of a heavy-written nature issued by the UN to do their job presents a challenge.

Temporary migration and middle class nation building in Canada

ABSTRACT This article explores the relationship between temporary labor migration programs (TLMPs) in the post-war era and middle-class nation-building. The analysis centers on Canada, an exemplary case of balancing the rights of foreign workers and national concerns. By examining two eras of Canadian TLMPs – one Keynesian and the other neoliberal – I foreground how and why temporariness has reemerged as a norm in (im)migration policy. Relative to TLMPs before 1990, contemporary ones emphasize merit, skill, and private actors with implications for how countries like Canada imagine political belonging. In the neoliberal era, the normative emphasis on permanence is challenged by a more transactional view of people’s standing in a political jurisdiction. If this is a global shift, this analysis raises questions about whether we are now experiencing a doubling down on the market logics of migration and national membership, a backlash against it, or something different.

Migrations, Citizenships, and the Right and Choice to Play for a National Football Team with a Focus on the Croatian National Team

Contemporary national football teams mirror numerous migration processes. The research was focused on the formation of football teams, examples of migrations of national team members, and changes in international rules (civil and sports citizenship, options of playing for the national team). The analysis of examples of footballers who have chosen to play for a country other than their country of birth shows multiple practices. However, the most prominent choice is to represent their parents’ country of origin. The research results contribute to studies on obtaining privileged citizenship and opportune citizenship, to integration theories, and to studies of elite migration.

LABOR LAW IMPLICATIONS ON MIGRANT WORKERS IN THAILAND AND CAMBODIA

Purpose: Employment is the basic right of the citizens, migrants, refugees and all other kinds of residents throughout the globe. International laws, economic zonation, domestic regulations, ordinances and regional policies require timely reviewing and revising to provide fair opportunity to all. However, the scenarios take an adverse turn when disaster strikes. The government, legal system and department framework work in close collaboration to ensure sustainability of the citizens. Theoretical Framework: Thailand has been struggling amid various disasters in the past while maintaining standards of employment through labor laws. However, the literature shows several gaps in the existing labor law which inversely impact upon the migrant workers in Thailand. Methods: The methodology adopted for this study is qualitative methods with data collections tools including the secondary data through the online published resources. The research follows an exploratory approach towards the documentary research method to ensure the inferences among the collected data. Findings: The results depict inadequacies in the existing labor law in Thailand, with reduced rights during the disasters. These adversely impact the implemented laws such as minimum wages, equal opportunities to work, supportive assistance from the governmental channels and professional growth and development of the individuals. Practical Implications: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) being the majority sector providing jobs for both domestic and foreign population requires them to be equipped with robust labor laws. Originality/Value: The study further provides for growth and sustainable development of the ASEAN region as Thailand is the central hub providing job and growth opportunities for all the member nations.

Analyzing Nigeria’s Journey Towards Sustainable Development Goals: A Comprehensive Review From Inception to Present

RATIONALE: This study critically examines Nigeria's journey towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since their inception. Nigeria, a United Nations member state and a major oil producer, faces challenges like socio-economic disparities, political instability, corruption, and prevalent poverty, despite its cultural richness and natural resources. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim is to evaluate Nigeria's alignment with the SDGs within its national development frameworks, highlighting the significance of these goals in addressing the country's multifaceted developmental challenges. These challenges span various sectors including poverty, health, education, and environmental sustainability. METHODS: The study conducts a detailed analysis of Nigeria's background, including its cultural diversity and developmental hurdles. It reviews national policies and initiatives, notably the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), and the role of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in coordinating SDG efforts. RESULTS: Findings suggest partial progress in SDG integration within Nigeria’s development plans. While some strides have been made in areas like policy alignment and strategic planning, challenges persist in effective implementation and tackling systemic issues like inequality and corruption. CONCLUSION: The analysis reveals that, while Nigeria has made efforts to incorporate the SDGs into national policies, significant gaps remain in addressing key challenges. The complexity of Nigeria's socio-economic and political landscape presents both hurdles and opportunities for sustainable development. RECOMMENDATIONS: The study advocates for more robust policy implementation, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and targeted strategies to overcome specific challenges. By addressing these areas, Nigeria can accelerate its progress towards the SDGs, paving the way for comprehensive and sustainable national development.

Policy and hope: The millennium development goals

AbstractThe Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were a set of measurable goals and targets agreed to by all United Nations (UN) member countries in 2001 or thereafter to achieve substantial socio‐economic improvement for all developing countries by 2015. The MDGs were defined by some as an ‘international super‐norm’ that made the eradication of extreme poverty a global policy and responsibility. In this article, we examine the broader historical and discursive context that facilitated this institutional emergence and draw on Rorty and Braithwaite to suggest that the MDGs can be considered an ‘institution of hope.’ The paper contextualises the political economy of despair that prevailed in the 1990s before outlining Rorty's critique of neo‐liberalism and post‐developmentalism and explaining the political value of hope as a collective motivating emotion. The paper then examines critiques of the MDGs before concluding that the MDGs performed a valuable function in reinvigorating global concern over poverty eradication, even if, in retrospect, the MDGs themselves remained only what Rorty referred to as a ‘plausible narrative of progress.’

The role of managerial competencies in fostering collaboration between higher education institutions and local communities

Relevance. The relevance of the scientific work lies in the need to study the competencies of the heads of higher education institutions and territorial communities in Ukraine and the results of their relationships. Purpose. The purpose of this research work is to identify the key competencies of senior officials of higher education institutions of Ukraine in 2023 and the results of their influence on the development of cooperation between higher education institutions and territorial communities. Methodology. Theoretical and empirical research methods were used in the scientific work, namely description, analysis, systematization, generalization, the survey of employees of the structure of education and territorial community in the city of Poltava, as well as interviews. Results. As a result of the scientific research, the necessary competencies of the manager were identified, which are a prerequisite for effective management of higher education institutions and territorial communities in Ukraine by the beginning of 2023. Also, the main characteristics of the leader’s personality and their influence on the establishment of interaction between territorial communities and institutions of higher education were determined in the research work. The main competencies of managers and necessary personal qualities are structured in this work. Conclusions. The position of employees of the Taras Shevchenko Luhansk National University and members of the Poltava City Council, as representatives of the territorial community of the city of Poltava, was studied, with the help of a survey, regarding the presence of the necessary managerial competencies and personal qualities of the managers of the above-mentioned structures and their influence on the interaction between the structures. The results of research work can be used by scientists and researchers for further study of the main competencies of heads of higher education institutions and territorial communities in Ukraine.

Minority Affirmations and the Boundaries of the Nation: Evidence From Québec

Cultural criteria, like language skills and values, are salient features of nationalism discourse, reflecting imagined boundaries that separate ingroup from outgroup member when thinking about the nation. Despite their salience, the relationship between cultural membership criteria and other civic (attainable) or ethnic (ascriptive) national boundaries, along with their implications for intergroup relations, is contested. Using surveys from N = 6448 majority group members in the Canadian province of Québec, we argue cultural boundaries are empirically distinct from civic and ethnic ones. Cultural and civic criteria are both prominent prerequisites for membership into the Québécois national community, but cultural criteria show markedly divergent relationships with outgroup attitudes. The results underline the importance of conceptualizing cultural boundaries as a distinct set of national membership criteria and question the construct validity of blended ethnocultural boundary measures or approaches that aggregate civic and cultural criteria together as equally “attainable” markers of national membership.