Political Decisions Research Articles

Current sports safety problems in Ukraine and the world

The article is devoted to the analysis and assessment of current problems and challenges faced by sports in Ukraine and the world, in connection with global crisis processes that lead to profound social changes. In recent years, the issue of sports safety in the world has become more relevant against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in Ukraine due to military operations on its territory. Thus, security protocols are gradually undergoing changes and actions to ensure security of various levels are adapted to modern conditions. Safety instructions for mass sports events of various levels, orders of specialized services and ministries of various countries regarding the organization of events on their territory, government resolutions and laws regulating the safety of athletes, spectators and sports facilities were analyzed. Globalization processes are rapidly changing, which requires quick solutions without losing their quality. The topic of sports safety has become more relevant in recent decades. Sport is a global phenomenon that unites representatives of all social groups and strata. Although the official slogan of the international sports movement, which is supported by all its members, is: "Sports outside of politics", but at the same time, it is a powerful means of political influence and manipulation. History has seen many boycotts driven by political decisions in response to wrongful or military actions by one party against another. Everyone remembers the terrorist attacks committed at the Olympic Games and other international competitions. All this led to the intensification of the development of research in the field of sports safety. At the same time, sports competitions, especially international ones, attract the attention of a large number of spectators, which causes the desire of world political leaders, public figures, representatives of culture and art, etc. to participate in them.The study showed that the process of adaptation and response is imperfect and requires careful study and analysis, which determines the relevance of the topic.

Border militarization and domestic institutions

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to examine the impact of border policies and the increased militarization of border control practices on the expansion of police powers, the erosion of constitutional constraints and on other institutional spillovers. In recent decades, the Border Patrol has been integrated with the broader national security state as part of the war on drugs and the war on terror. This has entailed the acquisition of military hardware, the incorporation of organizational structures and training originally developed in the military, and increased interaction with the military, intelligence agencies, and defense contractors. The Border Patrol has frequently lent their equipment, personnel, and powers to domestic policing that has only a tangential relationship with border security. Border militarization therefore contributes to expansions in the scope of police powers and the erosion of constitutional constraints. This process undermines functional polycentricity, and thereby alters the incentives and knowledge of political decision-makers.

City health development planning – experiences from the Hungarian members of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network

ABSTRACT This study showcases the City Health Development Planning (CHDP) methodology developed and implemented in Hungarian designated cities of the World Health Organization European Healthy Cities Network. This methodology is based on those principles that the WHO-EHCN recommends for CHDP works. The methodology consists of two phases: creating a City Health Profile (CHP) with specific components such as content analysis of the city’s strategic policy documents, semi-structured interviews with local political decision-makers, adopting a decentralized and participatory planning approach, and gathering available health-related data from the city. Then, the City Health Development Plan is created based on the statement of the CHP using the CHDP. The effectiveness of CHDP efforts, relies on three crucial factors: local politicians’ commitment, the operation of a local multisectoral steering committee, and annual action plans approved by the local government. Kingdon’s multiple streams theory suggests that issues are addressed when the streams of problems, policy, and politics align. The CHDP methodology described in this paper can effectively support the alignment of the three streams and open a window of opportunity to contribute to creating a healthy urban environment, as demonstrated by the experiences of the Hungarian designated cities of the WHO-EHCN.

Lip service to liberal democracy in Western Europe?

Abstract Political scientists heavily rely on standard survey questions referring to “democracy” when they study citizens’ attitudes toward (liberal) democracy. However, we only know little about the way in which citizens respond to these questions. This article focuses on two frequently highlighted issues: social desirability and the consistency between citizens’ understanding and researchers’ understanding of the term “democracy.” To address these issues, I collected novel survey data via YouGov from 14,000 British, French, German, and Italian respondents. I use a list experiment to show that respondents do not feel socially pressured to misreport their support for democracy. However, what citizens have in mind when they claim to support democracy only reflects norms and institutions of minimal conceptions of democracy. Overall, this encourages the usage of questions regarding citizens’ support for democracy widely, although this should not be interpreted as the support for anything going beyond minimal conceptions of democracy (providing freedom and allowing for citizens’ influence on political decisions).

Apologies, Remorse, and Amends: Empirical Legal Studies Across Domains and Disciplines

The role of apologies in law is offered as an example of a topic that cuts across legal fields, and one that is quintessentially interdisciplinary. Because apologies are an often-desired response in the wake of a wrongful act, they can be significant in many legal settings. Apologies or the lack thereof affect attributions of responsibility and blame, provide information, and alter relationships. Apologies play a role in motivating or forestalling legal action, shape settlement in civilcases, influence punishment in criminal cases, provide alternate or complementary means of accountability, and impact relations among parties to conflict from the interpersonal to the geopolitical. An understanding of apologies is enriched by research conducted by legal scholars, sociologists and psychologists, economists and political scientists, historians and linguists, and criminologists, using methods drawn from each of these fields. This range of empirical research is necessary to successfully develop a better understanding of the desire for, effects of, and limits of apologies across varied legal contexts and the implications for client counseling and legal strategy, for legal reform and systems design, for political decision making, and for procedural, restorative, and transitional justice.

Natural resource rents and public spending on education in Africa: Does women's political empowerment matter?

The increase in the number of women in political office is one of the most significant social trends of recent decades. Although still underrepresented, women's participation in decision-making bodies is increasing. This paper analyzes the moderating effect of women's political empowerment on the relationship between natural resource rents and public spending on education in a sample of 47 African countries over the period 2003–2020. This study employs several recent methods to effectively address the endogeneity issue, including the Generalized Method of Moments in System (GMM-S) and the Two-stage Instrumental Variables (2SIV) approach. Overall, the results show that natural resource rents reduce public spending on education, but their interaction with the index of women's political empowerment in composite and disaggregated form increases public spending on education in Africa. These results are tested at four levels of robustness, including the inclusion of additional control variables, the exclusion of outliers, and the use of alternative dependent and independent variables. We suggest improving the representation of women in African political decision-making. This could include quotas for women in decision-making bodies, mentoring programs for women leaders, and financial incentives for political parties that promote women's participation. Steps must also be taken to address structural barriers that prevent women from fully participating in political life, such as discrimination and violence against women.

A framework to characterize and classify soundscape design practices based on grounded theory

Abstract In recent years, various stakeholders and political decision-makers have recognized the significance of high-quality urban sound environments, stressing the need for user-centered trajectories. Despite the rising interest in this field, the soundscape approach has not yet fully permeated urban planning and design, possibly due to a lack of comprehensible guidelines on how to implement and curate successful soundscape designs, attributed to on-going developments on this subject. In the course of the Catalogue of Soundscape Interventions (CSI) Project, a taxonomy of eight dimensions was developed to serve as an orientation aid for practitioners, describing important aspects of soundscape-related measures that can be used as a brief to facilitate communication between authorities, consultants, and researchers. This study describes the theoretical framework and, in particular, the sequential coding process involved in deriving these dimensions, which is based on grounded theory. It lists observations and limitations of the resulting taxonomy and builds upon these findings to critically review and revisit existing nomenclature and concepts. Finally, a qualitative distinction in the form of a design pyramid according to ascending levels of epistemic rigor is proposed, to differentiate between documented practices, which may serve as a reference point for future harmonization and standardization.

Beyond retribution: Individual reparations for IHL violations as peace facilitators

Abstract Three decades after the United Nations Security Council invoked its Chapter VII powers to create the ad hoc criminal tribunals, there can be little doubt that the prosecution of individuals responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) contributes to restoring and maintaining peace. While there is little doubt that the reparatory function of justice is just as crucial as retribution, under international law today, reparations for IHL violations remain harrowingly insufficient or borderline non-existent. In scholarship and strategic litigation, various attempts have been made to distil an individual right to reparations from black-letter IHL. This article argues that such approaches are doomed to fail, as procedural aspects of international obligations rarely, if ever, emerge through the evolution of an existing customary international obligation, let alone via the crystallization of a new customary international norm. They are usually triggered by a political shift that makes States adopt novel regulations setting forth the jurisdictional ramifications of enforcing a pre-existing right or obligation. This article thus advances a two-fold argument. First, it asserts that States’ increased compliance with the obligation to provide compensation for violations of IHL attributable to them would contribute to “the restoration and maintenance of peace” just as much as the prosecution of persons responsible for serious violations thereof. Second, it argues that the individual right to claim reparations for IHL violations can only be established through a political decision of States, and that the establishment of an international mechanism for Ukraine might be an important precedent for the evolution of the current international system.

Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės viešieji notarai XVI amžiaus kryžkelėse: nuo 1512 metų Europos notariato nuostatų iki Antrojo Lietuvos Statuto

The Imperial Notary Ordinance, which began being written in the late fifteenth century, not only further cemented the statements set forth in Ars notariae, but also fundamentally transformed the status of notariat, declaring the notariat a governmental institution. According to the opinion of Notariat experts, this Ordinance that was declared in 1512 is fundamental for having the main professional characteristics of the contemporary Latin notariat. This similarity also outlines the continuity of modern European notariat.Lithuanian society in the beginning of the sixteenth century lived with a notariat that was not fully developed, since, only after receiving the right from the Pope in 1501, public notaries began being nominated in the Vilnius diocese. During the first half of the sixteenth century, the development of notariat was visible particularly in the dioceses of GDL. This was to be expected, knowing that the notariat was established in GDL through the Church. Notariat developed in the secular government only as much as there was cooperation with and participation of diocesal notaries public, by serving in the office of a ruler or a voivod. We can observe a tendency in the beginning of the sixteenth century of secularization of the notaries public – they would switch to service in a purely secular office after leaving the clergy and/or becoming supporters of the Reformation. At the same time, similarly to Poland, in the later half of fifteenth century and onwards, Lithuania saw the rise of notaries with apostolic mandate, which declared the primacy of the Pope’s rule. We think, that the Notary Ordinance of 1512, could have had impact (negative?) to the further development of GDL notariat. Firstly by raising the questions of political loyalty and personal choice in regards to which highest authority to obey – the Pope’s or the emperor’s, ecclesiastical or secular.During research we acknowledge that both the First and the Second Statutes of Lithuania could have been partially influenced by the Notary Ordinance by notaries public participating in their conception. Thanks to them, articles regarding the Roman law have been created. The removal of Latin language as the written language of the courts by the Second Statute was not beneficial to the Roman notariat and a serious challenge to the notaries public and to the further development of notariat in GDL. The New Statute became an opportunity for the secular notariat to form as a legal institute. However, for it to happen there had to be further political decisions in support of it, there had to have been the right conditions and enough time to prepare qualified specialists and for the society to be prepared to trust those specialists.

Analysis of actual results of drug supply implementation within framework of High-Cost Nosologies Program

The accessibility and pharmaceutical care coverage are linked to political, economic and managerial decisions. That fact necessitates the evaluation of the state programs results in the field of the drug provision.The aim of the work was to assess the quantitative results of the implementation of the High-Cost Nosologies program in the Russian Federation from 2008 to 2023 to determine further vectors of its improvement.Materials and methods. The regulatory base of the work was made up of the Russian Federation legislation in the field of the drug provision. The open sources were used as the research information base for the data collection and analysis: reports of federal and regional executive authorities, materials of specialized conferences, results of published studies.Results. The drug coverage under the High-Cost Nosologies (VZN) program is provided for 14 nosologies, 11 of which are classified as orphan diseases. Since its implementation, the HCNs program has been expanded twice by including new nosologies in 2019 and 2020. As of 01 October 2023, the number of patients in the Federal Register of VZN was 263 721 people, which was 13.58 times greater compared to 2008. The drug provision is carried out according to the list of 47 INNs. The amount of funding for the program increased from RUB 32 bn in 2008 to RUB 87.96 bn in 2023. The most resource-intensive nosologies include hemophilia, multiple sclerosis and oncohematology.Conclusion. The main quantitative characteristics of the implementation of the HCNs program and the identified vectors for its further improvement have been analyzed in this study. The results obtained can be used to conduct analytical studies, including the ones within nosologies and nosological groups included in the program, in order to optimize a pharmaceutical care. The focus of improving the implementation of the VZN program is related to the improvement of the legal framework, a patient treatment paradigm and approaches to its financing.

ВЛИЯНИЕ РЫНКА ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСКИХ РЕСУРСОВ НА ПОЛИТИЧЕСКУЮ СТАБИЛЬНОСТЬ В СТРАНЕ

Despite the dependence of the human resource market on the market for goods and services, it acts as one of the key segments of the economic system that influences the economic and political decisions of the government. Human capital predetermines the economic development of the country both in the short term and in the long term, creating the prerequisites for effective management of natural resources, self-reproduction and ensuring return on capital. The disequilibrium state of the factor labor market causes a decrease in gross domestic product and changes in other indicators of the system of national accounts. In addition to economic problems, imbalances in the labor market also provoke political instability in the country and increase the level of uncertainty among residents. This situation arose in Great Britain at the beginning of this century, when, after the creation of a single European space for markets for goods and factors of production, uncontrolled migration from Europe became a serious challenge for residents of the country, which caused discontent among the British, the risk of a change of power and, as a result, led to Brexit. The purpose of the study is to identify the interaction between changes in the labor market and political decisions using the example of Great Britain. The objectives of the study are to establish the causes of transformations in the human resources market of the United Kingdom at the turn of the 20th–21st centuries; considering the stages of the creation of the European Union and the country’s break with it; determining the consequences of the UK's exit from the European Union. The methodology of the work includes historical-logical, comparative and systemic approaches. A dynamic study of macroeconomic indicators allows us to draw a conclusion about the direct relationship of the human resource market with the country’s political course.

The Implementation of Good Governance for Optimizing the Potential Corruption Prevention in the Development of the Nusantara (IKN)

The Implementation of Good Governance for Optimizing the Potential Corruption Prevention in the Development of the Nusantara (IKN)

The Influence of Political Memes on Political Marketing Strategy in Malaysia

Rapid development and quick-moving media not only change how people behave and communicate but also completely alter the marketing approach used to promote politics to maintain political power. The usage of memes in politics has also altered the agenda-setting of social groups that are concerned with Malaysian politics. This study aims to examine the impact of political memes on Malaysian youth, particularly on their decision to vote in general elections at the age as early as of 18. It also tries to examine the elements that make memes effective political marketing tools. Using a quantitative study involving 400 young people, it discovered that politics and memes had an impact on the younger generation. Further study is imperative to investigate on the young people preference that influenced their political decision making.

Considering Future Generations in Democratic Governance

Intergenerational issues encompass various future concerns ranging from climate change to government debt, which can potentially harm the well-being of future generations. Scholars have discussed intergenerational equity and justice, and efforts to incorporate future generations in decision-making in society have been growing, including establishing future-regarding institutions. Nevertheless, democratic governance often prioritizes short-term gains over long-term benefits. This thematic issue aims to present the current state of progress and academic discourse on incorporating considerations for future generations into current decision-making. The issue comprises 10 articles with a varied focus, including on young people and those who are yet to be born. Challenges such as misrepresentation and negligence in democratic deliberation are explored, along with legal obligations grounded in human rights. Proxies for future generations in political decision-making are examined, revealing limitations in enforcing their interests. The impact of political short-termism on government responses is discussed, and the role of narratives in moral philosophy is explored. Diverse cases, including climate litigation in the German Federal Constitutional Court, highlight the complexity of addressing future generations. These articles explore and identify challenges in incorporating consideration of future generations, which could be used to catalyze studies on actions that will be taken in the future.

PUPLIC DIPLOMACY AND ITS IMPACT IN THE STATES FOREIGN POLICY (QATAR TYPICAL)

The subject of the research tagged (public diplomacy and its role in the foreign policy of the state (Qatar as a model)) dealt with how and the extent of the impact of public diplomacy on the foreign policy of the state, and the importance that the researcher sees for public diplomacy at the international level and its role in making events, directing political policies and decisions and influencing international relations is a basic starting point for studying the subject, and then crystallizing it into a problem worth researching and studying. Which lies in a major question is the meaning of how public diplomacy affects the making and implementation of the foreign policy of the state, has divided the research into three basic sections, the first topic: looking at the concept of public diplomacy and concepts approach, the second topic: focuses on the dimensions of public diplomacy and tools, The third section seeks to clarify its role in the foreign policy of the state by studying the public diplomacy of the State of Qatar as a model for the state that is interested in this form of diplomacy and employs it in its international relations. This led to different results, the most important of which is that the definitions of public diplomacy differed according to the stages they went through and based on the circumstances and variables of the international reality at each stage, and the future of public diplomacy depends on scientific research based on the participation of researchers from different sciences such as communication sciences, media, public opinion, politics and international relations. In this regard, the State of Qatar has been able to overcome its demographic and geographical weaknesses by providing a range of strategic soft power means, including public diplomacy

Die Bedeutung des Brexits für die Demokratie in Großbritannien

Abstract On the one hand, Brexit has repatriated key competences from the EU to the UK, broadening the scope for political decisions which respond to national democratic preferences. On the other hand, it has highlighted traditional weaknesses of the British democracy, further concentrating powers in the hands of the British government and strengthening the role of the Prime Minister as the head of an “elective dictatorship” subject to few checks and balances. We explore these developments in light of constitutional law, political expert opinions, and mass surveys, showing that British democracy remains strong but is challenged by heightened popular expectations and widespread demands for reform.

Роль политических институтов в экономическом развитии Юга России в условиях новой реальности

Introduction. Ineffective resolution of economic problems by political institutions can jeopardize a country’s technological sovereignty in the face of existing geopolitical challenges. The purpose of the article is to identify areas for increasing the efficiency of the functioning of political institutions from the point of view of ensuring the economic security of the southern Russian regions, considering the challenges of socio-economic development that exist for them. Methodology and methods. This study centers on the Southern Federal District, which acts as an administrative entity responsible for implementing regional-level economic policies. The research utilized content analysis of scientific publications and comparative analysis of regional socio-economic indicators of economic development as part of implementing economic policy. The method for analyzing the influence of political institutions on economic development was based on the principle of balancing the combination of tactical and strategic decisions in assessing the effectiveness of implemented measures and was based on the basic principles of the theory of factors of production. Analysis. An analysis of the results of the economic policy pursued in the southern Russian regions showed that a relatively high level of resistance to sanctions challenges is ensured mainly by the export capabilities of agricultural products. However, the continued high level of import dependence on production increases the risk of conflict over the use of production factors between exportoriented companies and companies oriented to the domestic market, which creates significant threats to the implementation of national growth models. The turn of state economic policy towards the global East and South poses the tasks of the authorities of the southern Russian regions to develop transport infrastructure, as well as state support for companies participating in the construction of new production and supply chains. At the same time, increasing migration flows from border areas requires solving the problem of ensuring the socio-economic well-being of both the people moving and the host community. Results. It was found that the existing political risks to the economic development of southern Russian regions are associated with a lack of balance between the political decisions made and the strategic objectives of achieving technological sovereignty. It is concluded that the conditions of modern economic reality require economic and political mobilization to achieve value consensus and consolidation in society in order to solve the problems of economic development, implemented through the responsibility and patriotic position of political and economic elites at all levels of government. Authors’ contribution. I.V. Mitrofanova: development and justification of the concept; interpretation and synthesis of research results; O.A. Chernova: formation of methodology; development of research design; content analysis; formulation of conclusions.

The relationships between citizens’ perceptions of corporate political activity and their health risk perception

Risk perception is a pertinent issue in the situation of constant risks associated with the biological, climatic, or technological factors that affect citizens’ lives today. The context in which a risk-generating situation arises can influence the way citizens perceive it. Among other factors, it is important to take the political context into account in risk perception research. In this vein, a wide variety of firms try to influence political decisions made by public authorities through the implementation of corporate political activity (CPA) strategies. In the case of polluting industrial complexes, residents who live close to them may perceive higher health risks when they become aware of the implementation of CPA strategies by firms. However, this reality has been neglected in the academic literature. To help fill this gap our research is based on institutional and attribution theories and the social risk perspective. The aim of the paper is to provide empirical evidence on the relationships between perceived CPA strategies, namely information and financial incentives, and health risk perception. For this purpose, the study focuses on residents who live near a polluting industrial complex. The results are obtained using structural equation models, and they show that each CPA strategy influences citizens’ health risk perception in a different way. Finally, we offer theoretical and practical implications of citizens’ health risk perception in a context with corporate political involvement.

COVID-19 and perceived risk: examining mortality salience and political decision-making during a pandemic

Four experiments were administered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: April/May 2020 (n = 587), September/October 2020 (n = 279), March/April 2021 (n = 590), and September 2021 (n = 353) with a national sample of Americans. Using Terror Management Theory (TMT), these set of studies evaluated whether mortality salience impacted speaker credibility and behavioral intentions to follow government recommendations to stay safe from COVID-19, testing TMT. Results show that repeated reminders of mortality over time may have negated the desire for information from a trusted source. Implications for TMT and long-term awareness of death are discussed.

Theoretical Debate Over the Relationship Between Ideology and Practical Politics

Political ideology is based on beliefs, values, and principles guiding the preferred form of government and societal organization. While providing coherence and direction for political parties, ideologies often clash with the pragmatic realities of governance. Practical politics prioritizes pragmatic considerations over ideological principles, focusing on achieving realistic goals through compromise and negotiation. This tension underscores the dynamic nature of political theory and practice, where ideological ideals must adapt to real-world complexities. The clash between ideological ideals and pragmatic necessities in governance underscores the dynamic nature of political theory and practice. Scholarly research explores this interplay, highlighting debates on the relationship between ideology and practical politics. The study highlights the complexity of navigating the interplay between ideological frameworks and practical considerations in political decision-making. It acknowledges the challenges inherent in reconciling abstract principles with the exigencies of governance. It analyses political ideology theories imperative for policymakers to balance ideological commitments and pragmatic policies. This research comprehensively explores theoretical approaches to the relationship between ideology and practical politics, shedding light on the ongoing discourse within political theory and its implications for effective governance.