Official Reaction Research Articles

DYNAMICS OF THE EU STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION OF UKRAINE

This research covers the analysis of changes in the strategic communications of the European Union regarding the European integration of Ukraine during 2000-2023. Specifically, it pays attention to the reactions of key EU officials to significant political events and foreign policy challenges. Having used the semantic analysis of official documents and speeches, the study presents the evolution of approaches and perspectives, revealing the hidden strategies, intentions, and ideological influences that shape the EU policy. The analysis emphasizes the growing importance of Ukraine in the strategic plans of the EU, while the geopolitical context significantly affects the European integration process. Examining the communication activity of the main EU institutions since 2022, the study has revealed specific messages regarding Ukraine's prospects for becoming a member of the EU, recognizing the successes in carrying out reforms and the country’s efforts to achieve the goals underlying its status as a candidate for membership.

Women and Reproductive Health Challenges in Igboland: A Historical Study

The objective of the work is women and reproductive health challenges in south east, Nigeria. The research also treats the nature of reproductive health challenges in Igboland before and after 1970, and the official reaction to reproductive health challenges in contemporary Igboland. The research method employed was the qualitative analytical method which involved content analysis of relevant documentary data on the subject. The approach adopted was also thematic. The research findings indicate that reproductive health challenges in Igboland before and after 1970 can be classified into five, namely: genetic reproductive health challenge, witchcraft and curses, labor and accident, harmful socio-cultural practices, as well as infectious and communicable disease. The government response to reproductive health challenges includes the different frameworks for the protection of the reproductive health rights of women. These include the domestic instruments as well as the international instruments ratified by the government. The study observed that a number of factors inhibit the provision and availability of reproductive health rights in south east Nigeria, and it includes the social and economic factors as well as cultural and religious factors. It also argues that in spite of these challenges, some successes have been recorded as a result of the official responses to reproductive health challenges in Igboland. These include the elimination of child marriages, reduction in the violence against women and reduction of the harmful cultural practices, such as female genital mutilation (known as women circumcision) and polygamy.

ПРИЧИНЫ ДИСФУНКЦИЙ МОДЕЛИ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ МИРОВЫМ СПОРТОМ

The article presents materials related to the analysis of the causes for management dysfunctions in modern sports and further prospects for the development of sports in a changing world order. Paradoxically, the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine and the subsequent reaction of sports officials of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and international sports federations (IFS) made it possible to really look at the existing models of management of individual sports and the entire Olympic system from an applied aspect. Governance and power in sport is viewed through the lens of theories of symbolic capital, critical realism, dominance theory and the three-level dimension of power in sport. In the analytical part, the focus is on the fact that international sport does not adhere to a unitary or federal model of governance, but corresponds to the principles of a polycentric management system, since power in sport is asymmetrical and dispersed across separately established bodies with overlapping jurisdictions, which are not always in a hierarchical relationship with each other. That is why IOC President Thomas Bach made recommendations to remove Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions, cancel competitions on the territory of these countries and ban Russian and Belarusian state symbols. The IOC leadership has no other management levers to make decisions. The author identified that dysfunctions in the management model led to the dependence of the Olympic movement on American capital and unfair distribution of income; creating a trend towards the development of regional sports projects and the formation of a new geopolitical economy of sports

Caught between the Union Jack and the Nazi Swastika: African Protests over Ambiguous Status under British Imperialism and Potential Transfer to Nazi Colonialism

AbstractResistance to colonial rule is a dominant topic in the historical study of Africa. But resistance to attempted transfer of colonised peoples and territories, to promote peace in Europe, has not gained similar attention in African and colonial historiographies. This article looks at how rumours and reports of Nazi Germany's colonial demands in Africa, and the ambiguous reactions of British officials to them, shaped conversations among colonised peoples about their dignity under British colonialism and in intra-European diplomacy. The article argues that the prospect of Nazi rule and its spectre of slave-labour concentration camps for Africa's Western-educated elites, and other colonial subjects, bound these segments of colonial society closer to British, and French, imperialism than they relished at an uncertain, but critical moment in African and international history. They became the defenders of colonial systems they deplored, and opponents of a ruthless regime they feared.

The 1969 Strike in Curacao (“Trinta di Mei”): a Riot in Paradise

The article examines the events of 1969 in Curacao, known as “Trinta di Mei” (“30th May”). “Thirtieth of May”. In the 20th century strikes repeatedly occurred on this “paradise island,” which escalated into mass unrest, accompanied by acts of violence. Among them, a special place is occupied by the “Trinta di Mei” in Willemstad, the capital of Curacao and all the Netherlands Antilles, in late May — early June 1969. A brief overview of these events and their assessment in the media and scholarly literature is presented. Close attention is paid to terminology, as well as the interpretation of “Trinta di Mei” in the Soviet media and a small number of scholarly publications. The possible reasons for the lack of an official reaction of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to the social conflict in Curacao are also discussed.

The Position of the Russian Federation Regarding the “Bulldozer Revolution” in Serbia in 2000

The authors examine the evolution of Russia's position regarding the “Bulldozer Revolution” in Serbia in 2000. The response of official Moscow to the 'colour revolutions' at the beginning of the twenty-first century is a blank spot in Russian scholarly discourse, and the issue is being analysed in Russian and international historiography for the first time. In the course of the study, the documents of the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation, the Digital Library of B. Clinton (USA), the Federal Election Commission of Yugoslavia, statements by major Russian politicians and diplomats, materials from leading domestic and Western media, many of which are published for the first time in the academic literature. The authors come to the conclusion that the official reaction of the leadership of the Russian Federation to the crisis events of autumn 2000 in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was cautious and restrained, which excluded open support for one of the parties to the internal political confrontation. While the collective West openly advocated the removal of Slobodan Milošević from power, Russia sought to ensure that the president of the country was elected by the Yugoslav people legally, without foreign interference and internal unrest. That is why, during the elections and before the victory of the “Bulldozer Revolution”, Russian officials and diplomats did not speak out in favour of any candidate, but also did not succumb to the pressure of Western politicians who sought to use Moscow to put pressure on Milošević. Russia attempted to play the role of mediator between the authorities and the opposition, yet in the face of proactive action by Western countries to overthrow the ruling regime, this policy was doomed to failure.

“The Army of Exempts”: Medical Examinations and the Challenges of Mobilization in Civil War Connecticut

“The Army of Exempts”: Medical Examinations and the Challenges of Mobilization in Civil War Connecticut

IMPLEMENTASI KEARIFAN LOKAL DALAM PENEGAKAN HUKUM DI BIDANG KEHUTANAN

This study uses a socio-legal approach, which focuses on local wisdom of forest resource management by the community with local legal norms that are actually operated to maintain community order and its implementation in law enforcement. In addition, in this study the authors describe the correlation of national political development with social phenomena that are deeply related to public understanding or public reactions to crimes committed by Forest Tenure Rights (HPH) holders in West Kalimantan. That legal politics and community reactions as the embodiment of local wisdom in law enforcement against crime, essentially starts from the development of public legal awareness of the crimes around them. From the perspective of criminal sociology, that the official reaction of the community as local wisdom and law enforcement is a series of events related to events that occurred previously, namely the occurrence of forest and land fires (Karhutla). The community's reaction shows us how this reaction needs special attention so that what the community does can meet their expectations, in addition to being in line with applicable laws and regulations. The hope of society in general is that peace and welfare are more guaranteed and that crime can be suppressed as low as possible.

The post-colonialist condition, suspicion, and social resistance during the West African Ebola epidemic: The importance of Frantz Fanon for global health

The scholarship of Frantz Fanon has been recognized across numerous disciplines as a unique and necessary intervention for critical analyses of the (post)colonial condition. Yet, thus far, his oeuvre has largely been ignored in global health research. In this article we introduce and demonstrate the relevance of Fanon's work for the field of global health. To illustrate, we draw from Fanon's conceptual framework and observations to analyze the 2014–16 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak response in West Africa. During this Ebola epidemic, although not necessarily as widespread as Western media made it seem, numerous instances of “resistance”—sometimes violent—were levied by members of the community toward foreign outbreak response teams. In this article, we argue that the keen insights proffered by Fanon more than half a century ago help facilitate a deeper understanding of some of the reactions of community members and public health officials during the Ebola response. In calling attention to colonial histories and structural relations of power, poverty, and violence, Fanon's work can help us to effectively move towards “decolonizing” global health interventions, thus providing a framework with which to better understand and more humanely intervene in future epidemic outbreaks in the Global South.

O Brasil contra a democracia: A ditadura, o golpe no Chile e a Guerra Fria na América do Sul

O Brasil contra a democracia: A ditadura, o golpe no Chile e a Guerra Fria na América do Sul

Directions Of Defense Innovation Of the Armed Forces Of the Republic Of Korea

In this article, the author gives a brief overview of the state of the armed forces of the Republic of Korea. In particular, the defense innovation, which has recently been actively promoted by the Republic of Korea, is presented. The main contents of the Reform are also explained. The article is aimed at forming general ideas in the field of the country's security, as well as possible threats faced by the South Korean armed forces, counteraction measures and the buildup of Korean military power are presented. The study attempts to offer a productive and at the same time restrained approach to this issue by analyzing this political phenomenon, its problems and limitations. The study was based on data from international treaties, official agreements and declarations between governments, as well as official reactions and articles in the media.

Великий князь Владимир Александрович и 9 (22) января 1905 г.

Aim. The paper analyses two interviews by Grand Duke Vladimir to the American newspapers at January 1905.Methodology. The article considers the media campaign against the Grand Duke Vladimir which was a part of media war waged mostly by the British newspapers during the Russo-Japanese war. Two interviews of grand Duke Vladimir to the American papers were an attempt by Russian government to convey the official Russian position on the events of January 1905 to the American public. The article considers the reviews and comments by British and Russian media.Results. British newspapers made Grand Duke Vladimir the scapegoat of tragic events of January 9 (22) in Petersburg. His interviews were an important component of the official reaction to these events. Thus, Russian government demonstrated to the international and domestic audience that it remains in full control and can rely on loyalty of the army. The event of January 9 (22) was explained as a socialist riot suppressed by action of the military. Bystanders were seen as innocent collateral victims of the events. Vladimir finger pointed to the defamation campaign of western, mostly British, papers. Opinion of the Grand Duke Vladimir was similar to the published views of other contemporaries. Measures to maintain law and order were important for the further development in the imperial capital.Research implications. This analysis helps to establish a more complex and balanced view of the events of January 1905 in Petersburg. Lessons of the January riot were learned by both the government and the revolutionaries.

The Czechoslovak Crisis of 1948 in the Perception of American Diplomats and Media

In February 1948, during the political crisis in Czechoslovakia was established a communist regime. This event completed the formation of the Soviet bloc in Europe. It directly impacted the US containment policy towards the USSR and the escalation of the Cold War. Based on archival documents and newspapers articles, the research studies these events through their perception by American media and diplomats, whose opinions and interpretations had great and decisive importance for the US public opinion and its government official reaction. The author concludes that the Czechoslovak crisis of 1948 aroused considerable interest and severe reaction in the United States. It was considered as a part of growing Soviet-American contradictions and international tension. Despite the fears of a communist coup in Czechoslovakia expressed back in 1947, American experts could not accurately predict the onset time of the crisis and its nature. The rapidity of the crisis, the Communist’s reaction, and decisiveness, lack of direct Soviet intervention, as well as the absence of democratic resistance, became a surprise for American journalists and diplomats. They believed that the communist takeover was a manifestation of Soviet expansion and the Kremlin’s desire to consolidate its control over all Eastern Europe. Despite the external legitimacy, the transfer of power to the left forces was interpreted as a coup d'état that final ized the establishment of the totalitarian regime in Czechoslovakia. Nevertheless, the US government refused to sever diplomatic relations with Prague and to initiate an international investigation. Washington found no direct evidence of Soviet intervention. It had to accept the changes in Czechoslovakia, focusing its forces on the inadmissibility of this scenario in Western Europe. The crisis directly influenced the adoption of the Marshall Plan and the intensification of the containment policy.

Reforum: A brief but not unimportant chapter in the Dutch Reformed Church’s apartheid saga

In 1985 when storm clouds were gathering over South Africa, and a state of emergency was declared, a group of members of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) Family, clergy as well as laity, founded an organisation, Reforum. The two-fold aim of Reforum was to provide a prophetic witness against apartheid, calling the DRC to take leave of its theology of apartheid, and, secondly, to work towards the reunification of the DRC Family. The article researches the original Reforum documents, minutes, reports, conference material and letters, that hitherto laid untouched in the DRC Archive, in Pretoria. The programme of Reforum, especially the national and regional conferences held by the organisation over the 7 years of its existence, is discussed. The initial negative reaction of the DRC officials and synods, as well as the critique from some in the Dutch Reformed Mission Church and the DRC in Africa that Reforum was not radical enough in its approach, are recorded. The summation, at the end, is that Reforum did play a significant role, albeit humble and short lived, in the annals of the DRC’s apartheid saga. Relevance: The DRC’s apartheid saga, the story of a church that had over many years lived with apartheid and even provided a theological argument for separate development, eventually came to the point where the DRC not only repented of its past, but declared apartheid and the theology of apartheid a sin and a heresy, continues to fascinate historians, including church historians. For South African Christians, clergy as well as laity, it helps explain their often troubled past, as well as present. The often neglected story of Reforum and the role and contribution of the organisation in this process needs to be recorded. Original research: the author provides original qualitative research, using material that had lain untouched in the DRC Archive for three decades. This may be considered to be a preliminary study. The archival material merits more and deeper attention. It may well provide material for post graduate research.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The research is of value for the study of South African general history, South African church history, ecumenical studies, and practical theology.

Shaping the Balkan corridor: Development and changes in the migration route 2015–16

AbstractIn 2015–16, Europe witnessed the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War. Over a million people moved via different migration routes. The key route was the Balkan corridor running from Turkey, via Greece, to Central, Western and Northern Europe. The aim of this paper is to describe the development and changes in the route and provide an analysis of transit via Balkan countries, looking at factors that influenced the shape of the corridor. This refugee crisis was challenging for European countries and the whole European Union (EU). This corridor was unique, being de facto formalized semi‐legal territory, which the EU had never faced before. An official reaction to the crisis was necessary due to the substantial number of people who were on the move, seeking to cross the Balkan countries in the fastest manner possible. Therefore, the response was focused on arranging transport and providing only short‐term accommodation. This paper uses the PESTLE framework to examine the key political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental aspects that influenced the Balkan corridor, as well as changes in the route over time and responses to them. The role of the media in shaping the corridor is also acknowledged, thus resulting in a PESTLE‐M framework. Findings from the research are important, as it is likely that the EU will face a similar crisis in the near future. Therefore, there is a need to prepare and develop a plan in case such a situation arises.

Jehovah's Witnesses in the Modern World and Ukraine

This article highlights the history of Jehovah's Witnesses as a Christian religion in Ukraine from its occurrence on the territory of Ukraine in the early 20th century to the present day. The response of the Witnesses to the massive attempts of the Nazi and Soviet regimes to marginalize and suppress their religious manifestations is described separately. In particular, the biblical nature and confessional content of one of the fundamental teachings of the Witnesses – neutrality – is analyzed and explained. It includes the information about what it means and what it does not mean for believers. This makes it possible to better understand the current display of the neutrality of the denomination members when it comes to compliance with certain requirements of the local government. 
 The growth statistics of the denomination members throughout history are given, which indicate the failed attempts of the totalitarian governments repressive system to eradicate the faith in the controlled territories. 
 For the first time, information is published from the memoirs of Witnesses who tried to obtain state registration in 1949 when under the communist regime and the reaction of the government officials to believers’ attempts to be recognized by the state and society. 
 There is a link between the recognition of the state through state registration and the increase of confessional activity, by which the Witnesses actually disprove the myths and labels produced and imposed on society by totalitarian regimes for decades. Emphasis is placed on the Witnesses’ current activities, which gives an idea of their attitude towards Ukrainian society and their role in strengthening and affirming Christian values among fellow citizens. Their publishing activity, evangelization work, religious and family values, public worship, educational programs, charitable and social work, attitude to representatives of other religions are analyzed. 
 The view of health care is particularly examined. It describes the principles of a reasonable balance that Witnesses follow between the right to make informed treatment choices (including the refusal to use blood) and the attitude toward life and health as one of the highest human values. The significant contribution of Jehovah's Witnesses to the development of alternative nonblood treatments in world medicine is acknowledged. 
 Therein are recorded the conclusions from numerous religious studies of Ukrainian and European institutions regarding the social and pedagogical value of materials published and distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses through their periodicals and official online resources.
 The involvement of Jehovah's Witnesses in providing charitable assistance to civilians during the conflict in Donbas is highlighted. The activities of Jehovah's Witnesses in the context of their attitude to the culture, history, and traditions of the local people are considered. In particular, the part of the tourist program for fellow believers, who come from abroad to join in the ministry or assemblies, is to get familiar with Ukrainian monuments and the historical heritage. Witnesses publish and distribute Bible publications in 14 languages spoken by small indigenous communities in Ukraine.
 The social significance of biblical teaching, which is meant to meet the spiritual needs of Ukrainians with hearing and visual impairments as well as those who currently remain in places of correctional centers is outlined. 
 For the first time, significant decisions of higher courts in Ukraine and other countries regarding Jehovah's Witnesses are considered. In recent years, the issues of military service and the right for alternative (non-military) service have been considered in higher domestic and foreign courts; denomination’s compliance with the requirements for the provision of state subsidies guaranteed to recognized religions; the right to build and use their places of worship, and proper assessment of religious hate crimes against Jehovah's Witnesses by law enforcement agencies. The decisions of the courts in the above-mentioned cases show that states consider Jehovah's Witnesses to be a recognized religion with the right to exercise freedom of conscience and religion.

«Как бы то ни было, но судебная реформа скоро явится на свет». Неизвестный источник о подготовке в Российской империи Судебной реформы 1864 г.

The article and the published documents study the previously unknown documents on the judicial reform. Drawing on archival documents discovered in the Stasovs family archive (from the manuscript department of the Institute of Russian Literature) and in the secret archive of the Third Department of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancery (from the State Archive of the Russian Federation), including correspondence of D. V. Stassov with the chairman of the Yekaterinoslav criminal court chamber, A. S. Kuznetsov (1862–66), the publication reveals the unknown pages of the history of the judicial reform of 1864 in the Russian Empire. The sources highlight the activities of the commission for preparation of the reform under (initially) quite difficult conditions. The details of the judicial reform preparation are given against the background of constant struggles between conservative and liberal camps (with the gradual switchover of high-ranking officials from one camp to another, depending on the Emperor’s will), as well as between different groups and directions. Thus, the adoption of final decisions was delayed due to uncertain, evasive position of its members, as it happened during discussions of individual bills in the State Council. Attention is drawn to the reaction of officials of the Third Department, when perlustrating letters of the Councilor of State, Chief Secretary of the Governing Senate and Chairman of the Criminal Court Chamber of Yekaterinoslav containing quite immodest thoughts on the “behind-the-scenes preparation” of the Judicial reform. D. V. Stasov’s letters were actually weekly diary entries recording the preparation of the 1864 judicial reform, his tone picturesque, descriptions of ministers and high officials accurate and caustic. Such evidence from very authoritative sources provides a wealth of material on the attitude of the Imperial Court and the heads of state institutions (the Ministry of Justice, the State Council, the Senate, the Committee of Ministers, the Second Department of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancery) involved in decision-making concerning judicial projects, which has not been adequately covered in historical and legal studies. Publication of D. V. Stasov's letters (from the archival materials of the Stasov family fond) can significantly expand the source base on the history of preparation of the judicial reforms in the Russian Empire in 1860–64.

Stages of Transformation of the Communication Culture of Power and Society in the Digital Public Policy Era

The authors of the article address the evolution of the culture of mass-elite communication in the context of digital development. The culture of communication here refers to the norms and values that govern the public interaction of authorities with citizens. Three stages (2010–2013, 2014–2017, and 2018 to present) are distinguished in the evolution for the demands of society and the state for public (online and off-line) behavior of representatives of regional political elite. The main part of the article explores the evolution of demands for speech and behavior of the regional elite on the part of the State and society, in view of the increasing pace of digitization of public space. In the first phase (2010–2013), scandals and communicative failures with the political elite were usually humorous, did not get on the current information agenda, and rarely elicited the official reaction from top officials of the state. In power discourse, the Internet was defined as a universal means of broadcasting the openness of the state, and social activists published examples of mass-elite communications that presented politicians in an unattractive light. At the second stage (2014–2018), there was an increase in public criticism of ethical errors committed by politicians and officials in public mass-elite communications, and an increase in digital activity of ordinary users of the Internet space. The humorous style characteristic of the first stage of mass-elite communication in digital public space goes back to the past. Demand for social justice is gaining ground in Russian society. Since 2014, the federal and regional authorities of the Russian Federation have taken certain steps to improve the ethical relationship between power and society. The third stage (since 2018) is characterized by public attention to the culture and ethics of communication of representatives of the political elite online, namely in social networks. The State has begun the process of formalizing the Internet activity of the power elite by including this indicator in the performance criteria and adopting a number of laws regulating Internet interaction.

Implementation of Cigarette Plain Packaging: Triadic Reactions of Consumers, State Officials, and Tobacco Companies-The Case of Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: In August 2019, Saudi Arabia started implementing plain packaging for cigarettes. Three months later, an opposing campaign on twitter using an Arabic hashtag “the new smoke” gained momentum amongst smokers. The purpose of this study is to document this opposing campaign’s timeline and describe consumers, government, and tobacco industry rhetoric. Methods: We created a timeline of the campaign events then performed online social listening of Arabic twitter hashtags related to the campaign. Results: Campaigners mainly complained of an unfavorable new taste in cigarette packs with plain packaging. The messaging developed to accusations to government entities and neighboring countries, and then after threats to boycott tobacco companies. The campaign received a significant amount of media coverage and elicited an official response from a number of Saudi government bodies, such as the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and Ministry of Commerce and Investment. Conclusion: This case points at a need for risk communication training, possible tobacco industry manipulation, and a need to gain consumer trust with evidence-based messaging techniques. The case of cigarette plain packaging adoption in Saudi Arabia serves as an example to other countries of potential consumer interaction, tobacco industry interference, and state official counter-reactions.

Multimodal construction of ‘rule of law’ in Chinese anti-corruption public service advertisements

Multimodal construction of ‘rule of law’ in Chinese anti-corruption public service advertisements