Global Politics Research Articles

The Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Global Economic Stability and Political Security

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has emerged as a significant geopolitical tension, with far-reaching implications for global stability and security. This paper intends to study the impact of the war on the worlds and regional economic development and political stability, and achieve some findings that may trigger further policy considerations in mitigating challenges and issues imposed by the war. Through literature reviews and comparison analysis, the findings reveal economic, political, and security consequences of the conflict. The disruption of trade flows, economic sanctions, and uncertainty have impacted both Russia and Ukraine, as well as the wider region and the world. Energy security concerns and shifts in military alliances have added to the complexity of the conflict. The expansion of NATO and increased rivalries between Russia and Western countries have further heightened tensions. Based on the findings, the paper concludes that the Russia-Ukraine conflict poses a significant threat to global economic stability and political security. It emphasizes the need for a multilateral approach to address the conflict and promote peace and stability in the region. Ceasefire agreements, humanitarian assistance, and reconstruction efforts are crucial steps towards long-term peace and development. The paper highlights the importance of prioritizing diplomatic solutions over short-term gains from the conflict. In summary, this paper intends to explore the implications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on global stability and security, with findings that underscore the need for international cooperation and concerted efforts to mitigate the consequences of the conflict and foster a peaceful resolution.

Contesting patents on COVID-19 vaccines in the EU: the no profit on pandemic campaign

ABSTRACT This article presents and analyses the campaign behind the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘No Profit on Pandemic’ which challenged patents for COVID-19 vaccines. Albeit unsuccessful, we argue that the campaign offers a unique opportunity to study the transnationalisation of European contention during the ‘emergency critical juncture’ of the pandemic. We situate the campaign within (1) the broader Europeanisation of health governance and (2) the wider ‘Access to Medicines’ movement to point to the political obstacles and discursive opportunities for anti-patent mobilisation over the period. We conclude that, despite the discursive opportunities offered, the campaign failed to break through the political push-back and the industry opposition. The article, thus, contributes to the literature on health activism, in general, and progressive social movements during the pandemic, in particular, and hopes to shed some light on the global politics of public health.

Военная сила в международных отношениях как фактор безопасности и суверенитета России на современном этапе ее развития

The study presents an analysis of Russia's international relations at the present stage of development and their impact on the state of the military-political situation in regional strategic areas, which are of paramount importance for ensuring the national security of the Russian Federation. The authors note that Russia aims to strengthen its contacts with Islamic countries in the context of international relations. It is observed that the Israel-Iran conflict has once again become a key factor in global politics. The features of the negotiation processes, the role and place of Russia in them are revealed. The desire to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, which severely affects the global economy and its major players, remains pronounced. According to the results of the analysis, negative trends have been identified that require the elimination of factors at the international level at the current stage of development, influencing which, it is necessary to stabilize the aggravated contradictions taking into account new threats. The identified threats will ensure strategic stability to confront the collective West, contributing to the construction, functioning and development of the national security system. Proposals are being made on new approaches to solving the negotiation process and the need for a set of legal support measures, as well as the use of existing potential.

How Does the Intelligent Transportation System Promote the Globalization and Digitalization of Cities: Take Tesla Autopilot System as an Example

The globalization and digitization of smart transportation and cities are facilitated by advancements like Teslas autonomous driving technology, which revolutionizes urban mobility. This article explores their interconnection through the example of Teslas system. Teslas Autopilot, based on deep neural networks, utilizes cameras and ultrasonic sensors to perceive the world around vehicles, encouraging data sharing between vehicles and driving global development of smart cities. It employs artificial intelligence to assess terrain and conditions, fostering a transportation revolution in traditional cities and advancing the evolution of smart cities. Moreover, Teslas digital impact is altering transportation solutions, increasing visibility in development, and driving global technological progress. Teslas unique autonomous driving technology, leveraging data from nearly one million Tesla vehicles worldwide, enhances global intelligent transportation systems, promoting global sharing among Tesla users, and facilitating the convenience of autonomous driving and the flow of global traffic information. Teslas autonomous driving mode and intelligent traffic system promote the development of smart cities, although a comprehensive analysis of its global political, economic, and legislative impacts is needed.

Islamic activism in Indonesia and its representation by Nahdatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah organizations

The article analyzes the phenomenon of Islamic activism in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia, broadcast by the country's leading Islamic organizations.The phenomenon of Islamic activism originated in the middle of the XIX century under the influence of the intervention of Western countries into Islamic regions. Islamic activism as a phenomenon is still not structured, but is a reaction of Muslim society to the challenges of the world. Islamic activism affects absolutely all spheres of human life, from the organization of interest groups to global politics. One of the main properties of Islamic activism is the emergence of large religious organizations that are the conductors of ideologies peculiar to the region where the organization appeared. A striking example is the Islamic organization Nahdatul Ulama, which, unfortunately, is not as studied by domestic researchers as others. The social transformations she has brought to Indonesian and world society through the promotion of Islamic social, political and economic activism are also poorly understood.

Open Systems Theory in Organizations and Geopolitics

This paper presents a theoretical approach exploring the application of Open Systems Theory within geopolitics. Traditionally, geopolitics has focused on state-centric power dynamics; however, the increasing influence of non-state actors such as multinational corporations, and transnational networks has blurred the boundaries between states and other global entities. By employing Open Systems Theory, this paper offers a new conceptual framework to understand the complex and interconnected nature of modern international relations. The study ultimately argues that Open Systems Theory provides a nuanced perspective essential for analyzing the evolving dynamics of global politics.

A new politics of international criminal justice: accountability in Ukraine and the Israel–Gaza war

Abstract Protecting civilian populations affected by violent conflict and mass atrocities is a challenge in global politics, particularly in view of the persistence of contestation over the application of the Responsibility to Protect principle and geopolitical gridlock in the UN Security Council. Over the past decade, there has been a pronounced rise in international accountability mechanisms to fill protection gaps in the multilateral system. Increasingly, international accountability mechanisms have been activated in the early phases of conflict situations to counter atrocities, promoting protection in ‘real time’. This article proposes that the deepening association between accountability and protection is best understood as an emergent human protection transnational legal order (HPTLO), a mode of decentralized governance that was driven by diverse agency across borders and aimed at solving problems of a global reach through legal ordering. The article provides an account of the formation and character of the HPTLO, demonstrates how it is operating in the context of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and identifies key risks and opportunities that these developments present to the global governance of human protection.

Reimagining IR’s biomedical foundations: East Asian medicine and the need for cosmological plurality

Critical scholarship has long pointed to the problematic ways in which mainstream International Relations (IR) takes Westphalian state politics to be universally applicable, yet existing analyses fall short of providing an alternative grounding for IR. Departing from the close relationship between medicine and politics, this article advances two arguments. First, Westphalian IR is based on a particular Western conception of biomedicine. Second, biomedicine is treated as the hallmark of modern science, which exacerbates the discipline’s gatekeeping against ‘alternative’ scholarship that does not look like this particular description of science. By mobilising the notion of ‘cosmology’, we suggest that East Asian medicine (EAM), informed by Daoist yin-yang dialectics, can help to rethink the alleged universality of IR’s biomedical metatheoretical foundations. Specifically, we illustrate how the Westphalian state body and its territorial politics are made possible by biomedical knowledge, and how EAM’s relational cosmology and method of employing creative images helps to conceive shared communal bodies and re-evaluate territorial conflicts. Ultimately, this article argues for the necessity of a plurality of cosmological viewpoints in IR to overcome exclusionary oppositions in both the practice and study of global politics.

Nuclear energy and international relations: the external strategy of Russia’s Rosatom

AbstractThis article analyses the role of nuclear energy in global politics today through the perspective of three International Relations theories: realism, liberalism and dependency theory. It contends that concepts developed to investigate oil and gas geopolitics do not always apply to the nuclear sector due to its greater complexity. The supply chain for nuclear power involves different, interrelated stages—notably the provision of natural uranium, of enriched uranium, and the construction and servicing of nuclear reactors—which have distinct leading suppliers and relationships of dependence. We illustrate this through a case study of Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom. Rosatom leads in the provision of enriched uranium and reactor construction. This enables Russia to deepen economic and political relations with Rosatom’s clients. Even after its attack on Ukraine, Russia has not ‘weaponized’ Rosatom’s international business. Its strategy focuses on consolidating its reputation as a trustworthy partner, especially in the Global South and China.

What kind of power can citizens exercise beyond the state? Globalizing democracy through representative claim-making

Abstract Across the developed democracies, there has been a rise in populist nationalism and anti-globalization sentiment aimed at reasserting sovereignty through the state. This article develops the concept of discursive power as an alternative basis for citizens to project their voice and influence into global politics. Discursive power arises from the framing role of ideas in orienting citizen judgements to the possibilities for acting beyond the state, as a precursor to deliberative forms of persuasion and agreement. Discursive power is ‘democratic’, we argue, when it enables those affected by global issues and problems to conceive of themselves as collective agents capable of responding. Generating discursive power outside the state, however, requires informal representatives to serve as interlocutors. Drawing on recent theories of representation, we describe how the claims of non-state actors could support the production and mobilization of citizens' discursive powers across borders. Our analysis underscores the importance of claim-making for progressive responses to globalization centred on the judgements of citizens. We conclude by surveying several challenges for democratic discursive power at the transnational and global levels and suggest some background institutions and practices to enhance this power.

(Post)-pandemic subversive pedagogies: Slowness, relationality and care

While power is central to the study of global politics, pedagogy is often under-recognised as a central site of power within the discipline, shaping not only what is studied but who is invited into this scholarly endeavour. We advocate for subversive pedagogies that challenge the status quo by troubling the ‘knowledge-transmission’ model of education that sees learners as passive recipients of knowledge imparted by subject experts. We articulate three key dispositions in our pedagogical practices that allow us to acknowledge how existing power relations structure our teaching and provide alternative frames for learning with our students: slowness, relationality and care. First, we identify the challenges we face working in ‘the academy at speed’, advocating a slower approach to our pedagogical practice. Second, we articulate the central features of relationality and care that can accompany a slower pedagogy, offering new possibilities for how we engage our subject and our students. We finish by tracing these elements of subversive pedagogies across the contributions to this special issue, noting how intentional subversion and attentiveness to time, relationality and care centres the power inherent in pedagogy.

Identifying Cultural Diplomacy and Sustainable Development in Sister Province Cooperation of Bali, Indonesia

While States have traditionally formed the focus of International Relations studies, the contributions of local government actors have become increasingly important in both influencing and responding to the forces of global politics, including in the Global South. In this vein, this preliminary study explores the practice of the local government in initiating sister province cooperation in Bali, Indonesia. This study uses three conceptual frameworks: paradiplomacy, sustainable development, and critical discourse analysis. Primary data were collected through interviews with relevant local government officials in Bali and secondary data were gathered from academic articles, official websites, and online news items. This paper identified two most prominent sectors of this cooperation, namely: tourism and culture. These two areas align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While clearly connected with governmental and international goals, challenges remain in implementing sister province cooperation, achieving continuity among the parties involved, and dealing with funding limitations.

Indirect corporate political strategy in cross-border acquisitions: influence of political affinity on target-dependent firm lobbying

Purpose To mitigate the impact of legitimacy concerns, firms often depend on strategic partnerships that enable them to navigate both complex political landscapes and regulatory environments. In this paper, the authors expand research into the dynamics of indirect and collective forms of corporate political activities (CPA), particularly focusing on multinational enterprises (MNEs) originating from countries with low political affinity with the host country and its allies. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample consisting of 2,173 friendly acquisitions in the USA made by 1,612 foreign acquirers originating from 66 countries, the authors used Tobit regression analysis to test the direct and moderating hypotheses. Findings The empirical evidence shows that acquiring MNEs grappling with heightened legitimacy issues due to low political affinity between the involved countries are more inclined to leverage target firms for effective lobbying resources. This tendency is amplified when the multilateral political affinity between the home and the host country's allies is also considered. Originality/value The evolving nature of global politics and the increasing scrutiny of corporate-political interactions necessitate a deeper understanding of indirect CPA strategies. The findings of this research shed light on how bilateral and multilateral political relations affect MNEs’ corporate political activities, specifically in the form of indirect, collective lobbying.

Exploring the Nexus of technology, environmental policy stringency, and political globalization: Pathways to achieving sustainability

This study examines the effects of technology patents, environmental policy stringency, and political globalization on green energy markets and energy transitions in 18 OECD countries from 1990 to 2022. Two models—one focusing on renewable energy and the other on non-renewable energy—were analyzed using Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR), which accounts for outliers and nonlinear relationships. The results demonstrate that technological advancement and stringent environmental policies promote the adoption of renewable energy. Additionally, political globalization shows a positive correlation with green energy while negatively impacting fossil fuel use. The study offers policy recommendations for advancing green energy transitions aligned with the net-zero carbon agenda.

THE TURNING POINT OF THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKIYE: TURNING EAST

In the late twentieth century, after the end of the Cold War, the world underwent a significant transformation, leading to a multipolar system. This shift was characterized by the rise of various regional powers seeking to play a prominent role in global politics. The Republic of Turkiye, in particular, has been actively seeking to assert its position in the contemporary international order. This article examines the complexities of Turkish foreign policy, analyzing its legal framework, current aspects, priorities, and strategic approaches. Additionally, it explores the shift in Turkish foreign policy towards Eastern regions, away from its historical dependence on the West and towards the concept of "Turkish World", particularly in relation to Turkic-speaking countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus. In addition, the paper provides theoretical insights into the impact of foreign policy and diplomacy on various stakeholders, as well as the potential of soft power tools in the pursuit of foreign policy goals.

Rise of Digital Authoritarianism? Exploring Global Motivations Behind Governmental Social Media Censorship

Social media has been a crucial online space, yet our comprehension of government censorship remains limited by insufficient research. This study addresses this scholarly gap by probing two key inquiries: censorship's motives and evolutionary course. An analysis of 360 censorship incidents from 2006 to 2023 across 76 countries examines three primary rationales: political, social, and security, with political motives prevailing. The reasons for censorship vary across platforms and years, with political and social factors predominantly impacting Facebook and YouTube, while security concerns notably affect TikTok and Telegram. Regional disparities in censorship underscore the prevalence of political motives in Asia and Africa, social factors in South Asia and the MENA region, and security concerns in North America, Europe, and Oceania—the entirety of the Western world. The escalating social media censorship, particularly driven by political and social considerations since 2015, underscores a broader trend of dwindling democracy and burgeoning digital authoritarianism globally. We presume that a nation's democratic environment indicates its social media censorship practices, suggesting the nexus of local and global politics with technology complicates the understanding of social media censorship.

The Baby and the Bathwater: Class Analysis and Class Formation after Deindustrialisation

Abstract This paper is an edited version of the Deutscher Memorial Lecture delivered in November 2023 which expands upon The Next Shift: The Fall of Industry and the Rise of Health Care in Rust Belt America. It develops an account of the productivity limits of interpersonal service work more firmly rooted in Marxism and argues that the separation of social reproduction from production is primarily economic rather than political. This theoretical device is then deployed to argue that there is indeed a global ‘crisis of care’. This crisis is triggered not only by destabilisation of earlier care regimes, but also the encounter between the productivity limit and new forms and expanding volume in demand for care. Finally, this crisis is linked to the new global sociology and politics of gender and sexuality. Methodologically, the paper argues for renewed attention to the empirical specificity of proletarianisation processes, rather than ‘class abstractionism’.

Contesting clusters: a study of norm weaving in Pacific climate mobilities policies

Abstract This article identifies a sub-category of norm contestation I've termed ‘norm weaving’, where actors contest the constitution of norm clusters, instead of the validity of individual norms. This occurs through processes of stretching or reproducing individual strands of existing norm clusters before weaving them together to create behaviour guides in undergoverned issue areas that are greater than the sum of their individual parts. I identify two examples of weaving in the world-leading actions of Fiji and Vanuatu around domestic climate mobilities. Using these two cases, we can see that existing models of norm dynamics need to be developed to better explain and understand weaving-like processes of norm contestation. There are two areas where norm weaving extends our understanding – in how clusters of norms emerge and change, and in how contestation applies to groupings of norms. Clarifying what norm weaving looks like in these cases could open the door to further examples being identified in other contexts and a more complete understanding of how norms operate in global politics.

A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS ON THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF INDO-PACIFIC REGION IN GLOBAL POLITICS

The Indo-pacific region is enfolding the vast areas and islands which surroundings either the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean. In the geopolitical theme the term earliest used by the German geopolitician in 1920s in his numerous work on geopolitics. The region significance reinvigorate in the contemporary world politics. Australia, Japan and India popularized the term they conducted trilateral dialogues and sometimes discuss the region under the US umbrella. In the contemporary world the Indo-pacific region lay down implications on the global politics due to its huge importance. This research paper aim to examine the Indo-pacific region and to unfolding its different sides which are connected with the global politics. The paper thoroughly investigate currents ongoing geopolitical and geo-economics significance of the region. Major and Middle powers have been trying to acquire their respective national interest from the region. The United States trying to persist her hegemony in the region reactive the quadrilateral security dialogue which is the group of foursome Australia, India, Japan and US and leading by US to contain the broader engagements of China in the Indo-Pacific region and concentrating to mitigate the China geopolitical and geo-economics influences through different strategy. This paper assess the China Belt and Road Initiatives which mainly focusing on the geo-economics connectivity of multiple countries for the targeted purposes. China increasing leadership influences in the region is impelling United States and its partner countries such as India, Japan, US, Taiwan, South Korea and Philippines which have been confronting against China interest and the region is transferring into a new regional geopolitical tension and seeming to drag into new cold war between Sino-US. The free and open Indo-pacific concept reinvigorate 1906 by the Japanese prim minister Shinzo Abe with the American cooperation. In 2019, United States has formalized the concept and referred many Southeast Asia and European Union States to the Indo-Pacific. The concept has been criticized by the China official that it a closed and exclusive group structure and called for open and inclusive Asia-Pacific which does not target any third country.

AFGHANISTAN'S POLITICAL CHANGE AND THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE: AN OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION

This article explores the intricate relationship between Afghanistan's evolving political landscape and the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Situated at the crossroads of geopolitical complexities, Afghanistan has undergone enduring political transformations, prompting a critical review of its international role. As the nation grapples with transformative political journeys, this study scrutinizes the interplay between internal changes and the broader goals of the BRI. Initiated by China, the BRI represents an unprecedented effort in global connectivity and economic cooperation. The article outlines the dynamics of Afghanistan's political scenario and its potential impact on the BRI, revealing the complex relationship between political changes and the future trajectory of this ambitious initiative within Afghanistan's borders. Central to this exploration is the Belt and Road Initiative, a historic initiative spanning continents with the aim to reshape global trade patterns and strengthen economic cooperation. Originating from China, the BRI vision goes beyond infrastructure development, encompassing diplomatic, economic, and cultural dimensions. Understanding the goals and mechanisms of the BRI is fundamental to assessing how Afghanistan's political transformation might align with this transformative initiative. This article aims to dissect the point where Afghanistan's political trajectory converges with the aspirations of the BRI. By detailing the complex interplay between these two dynamic forces, the study explores synergies, conflicts, and potential implications for Afghanistan's geopolitical position and the broader goals of the BRI. As a scholarly endeavor, it contributes nuanced insights to the ongoing discourse on global politics, international cooperation, and the transformative potential of large-scale infrastructure projects in regions undergoing significant political change. Keywords: Afghanistan, Political Change, Belt and Road Initiative, Geopolitics, Infrastructure Development, Economic Dynamics, Regional Cooperation.