Proactive State Research Articles

Concept of the digital state: concept, nature and ontology

The article is devoted to the study of the phenomenon and concept of the digital state. The general concept and meaning of digitization in public administration is revealed. The problems of relevant interpretation and the limits of applicability of this concept to public administration are explained. The author’s concept and definition are presented, explaining the concept, nature and ontology of the digital state. The author suggests to consider the digital state in 4 interpretive projections: 1) as an ecosystem of operational, multi-service and proactive state digital super-services; 2) as an integrated computer-software meta-platform (platform system); 3) as an organizational and technological approach and corresponding paradigm; 4) as the digital ontology of state-building and functioning, public administration and public policy. According to the author’s interpretation, the concept of the “digital state” structurally includes the concepts: 1) the concept of the “digital government”; 2) the “digital democracy” concept; 3) the concept of the “digital justice”; 4) the concept of the “digital electoral technologies”; 5) the concept of the “digital public control over public administration”. The article details the author’s concept of “digital government”. The article is based on application of research methods of analysis and synthesis, induction, deduction and abduction, classification and formalization; through application of research methods, the essential descriptive characteristics of the phenomenon and the concept of the digital state were revealed.

ЧИННИКИ ТА ІНСТРУМЕНТИ ЗБЕРЕЖЕННЯ І ПІДТРИМКИ БІЗНЕСУ В УМОВАХ ВІЙНИ: ФІНАНСОВІ ТА СТРАХОВІ АСПЕКТИ

The article considers the aspects of ensuring the viability of economic entities in the critically difficult conditions of a full-scale war. As stated, in world practice, the fact of the functioning of the national economy of a country under military aggression, and even more so the preservation of the viability of economic agents, is considered paradoxical a priori. However, this has been a common practice for Ukraine for three years. The purpose of the study is to identify the factors and justify the tools of the state and corporate policy of preserving and supporting Ukrainian business in the conditions of war with the use of financial and insurance means for such purposes. Threats to the financial security of domestic economic entities in war conditions were determined by such components of security as credit, insurance, monetary, budgetary and tax, investment and fund security. Based on the same components, a policy toolkit for supporting domestic business in wartime conditions was developed, in particular in the sense of financial and insurance aspects of regulation. It was established that in the conditions of a full-scale war, the following became the dominant threats to the financial security of domestic business entities: freezing of investment projects, loss of foreign investment, destruction of facilities (investment component of financial security of enterprises); complication of attracting financial and credit resources, growth of external and internal debt, difficulty of attracting credit funds (credit component); devaluation of the national monetary unit, slowdown in the circulation of funds, difficulties in settlements with counterparties (monetary component); increase in the level of tax liabilities, decrease in the level of budget investment, delays in calculations (budget and tax component); problems of securities issuance, a decrease in the level of dividend distribution, the decline of the country’s stock system (stock component); aggravation of the problems of insurance of military risks, increase in the cost of insurance services, actualization of the problems of internal and self-insurance (insurance component). Policy instruments for strengthening the financial security of business in wartime conditions have been defined. This is the diversification of sources of investment formation, consideration of investment options abroad, however, for the production of products in the domestic market; activation of cooperation programs between enterprises to replace credit resources, optimization of internal and external debt, replacement of part of operations in foreign currency, formation of insurance and reserve funds, "decomposition" of business into separate components, detinization and legalization of business, proactive state policy in this area, use of public investment instruments, improvement of conditions for purchasing OVDP bonds, diversification of state securities, active investment policy of enterprises, improvement of war risk insurance instruments, active involvement of foreign companies to the domestic insurance market.

The Role of Cyber Security in the Innovative Development of Digital Products and Services

Given the modern challenges of the digital economy, it is important to analyze cyber security threats, which increasingly affect national security. Addressing cyber security concerns is different from the trends in the new generation of international trade agreements, which create broad security exceptions and are designed to restore balance between international trade and national security. However, these new approaches may not be immune to potential abuse. [1] The rapid development of digital technologies increases the risk of attacks, making organizations more susceptible to cyber threats. The more devices, systems and networks are interconnected, the greater the risk of successful cyber attacks. As for Georgia's cyber security policy, the following remain the main challenges: establishing a proactive state cyber security policy, raising cyber awareness in state agencies, staffing problems, and non-priority of cyber security. [2] In today's rapidly evolving digital environment, organizations are undergoing a major change known as digital transformation. The term "digital transformation" refers to the integration of digital technologies into all aspects of corporate operations, which has a profound impact on the performance and value of companies. While digital transformation brings many opportunities and benefits, it also brings many cybersecurity challenges. The role and importance of cyber security in ensuring a secure digital transformation is huge. Keywords: Ensuring Cyber Security, Digital Transformation, Data Privacy, Cyber Security Strategy.

ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИЯ УСЛУГ ПОЧТОВОЙ СВЯЗИ НА ПРИМЕРЕ РАЗВИТИЯ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЙ ЭЛЕКТРОННОЙ ПОЧТОВОЙ СИСТЕМЫ

In this article, the authors consider the digitalization of postal services in the Russian Federation as an innovative process at the level of the state email system of Russian Post JSC. The authors analyze the history and legal basis for the creation of the federal postal organization JSC Russian Post - a state electronic mail system that provides legally significant communication for participants in city circulation, authorities and other organizations and citizens of the Russian Federation. The object of the study is the state electronic postal system, which has the status of an information system for the organization of federal postal services. The object of research is dozens of digitalization of the postal services sector as one of the phenomena of proactive state regulation of innovative development. The authors set themselves a scientific task - to analyze the creation and development of legally significant communications between participants in urban circulation, authorities and organizations and citizens of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study is to analyze the creation of a state electronic postal system and the development of digitalization of postal services in the Russian Federation, to study the innovativeness of this system for communication between the state, business and the population of the world. For the author’s purposes, digitalization of the postal sector is considered as an object of innovative development. Complexes of decisions of governing bodies at different levels, regulations, data on the implementation of individual decisions, as well as the principles of functioning of the state e-mail system were studied, their continuity was noted and further development was noted. Qualitative and quantitative indicators of the education system are presented, reflecting its relevance among participants in information interaction. Based on the results of the analysis, the authors proposed ways to ensure the correct fundamentals of the functioning of the state e-mail system. The article substantiates the introduction of the state e-mail system as an effective mechanism of communication between government authorities, commercial and government organizations and citizens. These recommendations of the authors can be applied when developing proposals for improving the state e-mail system of JSC Russian Post, used to assess the effectiveness of state regulation in the area under consideration.

Comprehensive Analysis of Maritime Cybersecurity Landscape Based on the NIST CSF v2.0

As technology advances and digitalization becomes more prevalent in the industry, the cyber threats to maritime systems and operations have significantly increased. The maritime sector relies heavily on interconnected networks, communication systems, and sophisticated technologies for its operations, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals, nation-states, and other threat actors. Safeguarding the maritime sector against cyber threats is crucial to ensuring the safety, integrity, and efficiency of maritime operations as well as for protecting sensitive information and global trade. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has played a significant role in addressing cybersecurity issues, leading to the implementation of regulations aimed at risk reduction. This paper delves into the realm of cybersecurity within the maritime industry, offering an in-depth analysis of its various aspects through an extensive literature review based on the latest Version 2.0 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) functional areas. The primary objective is to establish a connection between research and NIST’s functions and categories, thereby presenting a nascent perspective and identifying existing security research gaps. Through the adoption of this strategic approach, the present paper aims to cultivate a forward-looking and proactive state of maturity in anticipation of future developments within the maritime industry. The outcomes of this research can provide valuable reference points in academic discourse, potentially leading to new hypotheses, and fuel innovation in developing advanced cybersecurity measures within the maritime industry.

Tapping on Collective National Trauma

Tapping on Collective National Trauma

The Downsides of Digital Currency and the Limits of its Normative Regulation

The paper reflects on the consequences of the bankruptcy of the FTX exchange in the context of cryptocurrency volatility, as for the legal anchoring of cryptocurrencies in terms of de lege lata and de lege ferenda, especially in the context of the need for agile proactive state response to criminal activities connected to the use of cryptocurrencies. The nature of cryptocurrencies predisposes the commission of criminal activities related to crypto predominantly in the online space, resonating with the necessity to increase transparency and control of cryptocurrency transactions. The anonymity of coins and the limited ability to track them gives them a clear technological advantage over the efforts of law enforcement bodies to map them or check them by regulatory authorities. The subject of the empirical part of the paper is the analysis of a case study of a regulatory offense committed by a selected service provider in the field of performing exchange activities in the Slovak Republic.

The need for ground-up transitions: exploring the knowledge politics of agroecology in Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT Despite a plethora of emerging alternatives under the broad rubric of agroecology, sustainable transitions in Indian agriculture are caught between institutional inertia and lock-ins of its vast agricultural establishment on the one hand and a pro-active state promoting a natural farming. This push for Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), while welcome as an alternative, also raises several questions on the nature of knowledge production and dissemination. This paper explores the knowledge politics around top-down “skilling regimes” and the principles and paradigms that emphasize social learning. We explore the multiple practices, meanings of agroecology among farmers, government agencies, and civil society organizations in the state of Gujarat. The action research included a survey of practices of 250 farmers in 12 districts, interviews, and stakeholder workshops. Insufficient investments in community-based extension mechanisms and lack of collaboration between state and civil society were features of the policy implementation. The absence of innovative platforms to facilitate knowledge dialogs and learning among actors to advance agroecology increases the gap between policy goals and its actual realization in practice. Programs for upscaling agroecology, we suggest, need to embed the diversity of technical and institutional processes through creating learning alliances to facilitate knowledge dialogs across dissimilar actors.

INFORMATION TERRORISM AND ITS PREVENTION IN THE GLOBAL POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The manifestations of information terrorism can be realized concerning the subjects of the global political sphere. Preventing and countering its consequences is a difficult task, primarily due to the multiple directions of modern threats, as well as the complexity of selecting and implementing measures to be taken to counter such manifestations of information danger. The study aims to analyze the trends in the development of measures to counter information terrorist attacks that have been and are being carried out against the targets of the global political sphere in the XXI century. The research was carried out using the methods of sequential analysis of the peculiarities of development and systemic description of information terrorism. In addition, the article provides a comparative assessment of related concepts. The descriptive method, comparison, analysis and synthesis of information were used to assess the content, methods of counteraction, principles and measures to counter information threats. According to the research results, the key features of countering information terrorism today include the formation and improvement of the regulatory framework based on global cooperation, openness, transparency, increased responsibility and proactive state policy to counter information terrorist attacks.

The Experience of Bulgaria in Attracting Foreign Direct Investment — Lessons for Emerging Economies

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been crucial in transitioning Central and Eastern European countries from planned to market economies, facilitating technological modernisation, job creation, export performance, and regional competitiveness. However, FDI alone cannot solve economic development challenges; effective policies are essential for leveraging FDI as a catalyst for economic catch-up. This paper aims to derive economic policy lessons for emerging economies through a critical assessment of the Bulgarian experience in attracting FDI. It employs a methodological approach that combines quantitative analysis of key FDI indicators with qualitative evaluation of the policy landscape. Since the end of the 1990s, Bulgaria has secured macroeconomic and political stability as an important precondition for FDI, applying an open-door policy for foreign investors without strategic targeting. The country's accession to the European Union in 2007 further enhanced its investment appeal. Nevertheless, the passive policy of reliance on a low tax regime and low labour costs without a strategic focus has led to unbalanced regional and unfavourable sectoral distribution with foreign investors crowding into the metropolitan area and sectors like non-tradable services and low-end manufacturing. Thereby, the Bulgarian experience, where the quantity of incoming FDI overshadowed the quality, demonstrates the insufficiency of a laissez-faire FDI strategy for maximising the benefits of FDI. The study underscores the necessity for proactive state policies in emerging economies that not only attract FDI but also ensure it fosters technological transfer and stimulates the economic potential of underdeveloped regions.

Identifying a Human Rights Approach to Roma Health Vulnerabilities and Inequalities in Europe: From Concept to Action.

Roma communities across Europe still remain a neglected population group by way of the social and economic disadvantage that largely characterizes their lives. Roma communities continue to experience structural socioeconomic health inequalities on the grounds of their ethnic origin, alarmingly unveiling a pattern of systematic discrimination and ethnic marginalization. Without any doubt, such a highly worrying situation calls for States to incorporate Roma health rights within their law and policy agendas in a manner consistent with right to health requirements. Against this background, this paper seeks to identify an operational human rights framework for States as a driver for better informed policies and implementation as well as for Roma engagement in the deliberations about their life prospects. The paper argues that continuing, concerted, and proactive State engagement is required for effectively addressing the structural obstacles impeding Roma socioeconomic health rights realization and maximizing Roma opportunities for well-being.

Impact of crisis factors on the profitability of dairy industry in Ukraine

The special contribution of this research lies in the thorough examination of the Ukrainian dairy industry's response to crisis factors, with a particular emphasis on unprecedented challenges brought about by the Russian invasion in 2022, offering a comprehensive analysis of previously unexplored long-term implications for the sector's profitability. The authors of the study highlight that the Ukrainian dairy industry demonstrated exceptional resilience and growth until the beginning of the war in February 2022 with a help of proactive state support and innovative agricultural methods. However, the Russian invasion posed unprecedented challenges that disrupted traditional trade channels, economic connections, and significantly limited the dairy sector's access to critical resources. In addition to security risks, the conflict in Ukraine resulted in supply chain disruptions, electricity shortages, rising inflation, trade restrictions, and hindered the country's capacity to attract foreign investments, all of which significantly worsened the economic situation in the country. The authors identify crisis factors contributing to the decline in dairy farm profitability, including reduced milk production, limited export opportunities, increased production costs, a shrinking domestic consumer base, higher imports of dairy products, losses in occupied territories, and insufficient financial support during the conflict. It is noted that strategies such as export diversification, stimulating domestic demand through reduced VAT and enhanced resilience, are of paramount importance in overcoming these crisis-inducing factors. The authors emphasize that collaborative efforts among stakeholders, alignment with international initiatives and sustainable development goals, as well as proactive implementation of comprehensive strategies, are critical steps toward addressing the current crisis and shaping a sustainable future for the Ukrainian dairy industry.

The right to adequate housing for IDPs in the context of slow-onset climate-induced disasters within the European Union

Abstract The effects of climate change are projected to lead to significant displacement within the European Union (EU). However, internal displacement caused by slow-onset disasters has been neglected from discourse, and the EU lacks a legal framework for internal displacement. This article deploys an interdisciplinary approach to assess the protection offered to internally placed persons (IDPs) in this context: a legal analysis evaluates the right to adequate housing and a discourse analysis unpacks the construction of ‘forced displacement’ surrounding the non-binding Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. Special attention will be paid to individual vulnerabilities and structural socio-economic constraints as drivers for internal displacement. The findings reveal that the human-rights-based framework provides relatively weak socio-economic housing rights. Protection of adequate housing is only offered in reactive claims requiring proof of severe environmental impact. Moreover, IDPs were initially constructed as a distinct group characterized by direct violence and imminent disasters rather than structural constraints. While the discourse recently shifted to recognize the complexity of individual displacement experiences, no corresponding concept has been institutionalized. Thus, this article recommends that the EU draw inspiration from the Kampala Convention regarding its definition of internal displacement, the legally binding nature and proactive state obligations.

LPA maintains innate antiviral immunity in a pro-active state via STK38L-mediated IRF3 Ser303 phosphorylation.

Innate immunity is critical for the early detection and elimination of viral invasion. Extracellular signals are crucial for host resistance; however, how extracellular factors prepare the innate immunity for rapid antiviral response remains elusive. Here, we find that serum deprivation largely restricts the innate antiviral responses to RNA and DNA viruses. When serum is supplied, serine/threonine-protein kinase 38-like (STK38L), induced by serum response factor (SRF), phosphorylates IRF3 at Ser303, which prevents IRF3 from proteasome-mediated degradation in the rest state (non-infected), and ensures that enough IRF3 is called in the primed state (infected). STK38L-deficient mice exhibit compromised innate antiviral responses and elevated viral proliferation and mortality. Moreover, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) or sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), the crucial activators of SRF, rescue immunosuppression caused by serum deprivation. These findings identify the SRF-STK38L-IRF3 axis as a novel mechanism that maintains the host in a pro-active state when not infected, which ensures the rapid immune response against virus.

Cytomegalovirus antiviral stewardship in solid organ transplant recipients: A new gold standard.

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are essential entities that promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced resistance. Application to the immunocompromised host is a natural progression for expansion. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common complication following solid organ transplant with significant implications on graft survival, making it an attractive ASP target. The aim of this piece is to review our center-specific experience with the development, implementation, and maintenance of a CMV stewardship initiative at a large transplant center. Our CMV stewardship initiative began in 2018. Herein, we review 3 years' experience and quality-related improvement that occurred from initiation to present state and share our stewardship algorithms. Special attention is paid to the impact of the program as well as our increased understanding of the complex interplay between prevention, treatment, and host development of CMV-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI). We found our stewardship initiative not only reduced the incidence of ganciclovir resistance but also streamlined care via a centralized and structured approach. This objective, protocolized program has resulted in a significant shift away from a reactive to a proactive state and in turn, reduced CMV treatment rates (26% at initiation to 12% in the current state, p=.012). A dedicated multidisciplinary team focused on CMV stewardship is imperative in providing a patient-centered approach focused on development of CMV-specific CMI, and as a result prevention of CMV disease. We believe these programs will be the new gold standard for CMV management.

Adaptation and Anticipatory Action: Integrating Human Rights Duties into the Climate Change Regime

Abstract This article analyses international obligations related to adaptation in the UN climate change regime. It argues that the interpretation and application of these obligations can compel and shape anticipatory, proactive state measures on, and support for, adaptation. To accomplish this, the article begins from the premise that the regime’s climate treaties are a dynamic part of a system of international law that should strive for coherence. Accordingly, it takes an evolutive approach to interpreting obligations. The article applies the tools of treaty interpretation, and systemic integration in particular, to incorporate positive duties from human rights law into an understanding of adaptation obligations. It also applies the regime’s operative principles alongside integration. Taken together, they help to shape adaptation obligations, strengthening arguments for action in advance of foreseeable harm and for support based on differentiation. Such an approach can lead to adaptation that better avoids risks to people and their rights, to prioritize those most vulnerable and to ensure access to essential resources.

LPA Maintains Innate Antiviral Immunity in a Pro-Active State via STK38l-Mediated IRF3 Ser303 Phosphorylation

LPA Maintains Innate Antiviral Immunity in a Pro-Active State via STK38l-Mediated IRF3 Ser303 Phosphorylation

Roma Community. Legislative Elements and Actions by Which the Romanian State Supports their Integration and Non-Discrimination

Through this study, we set out to make a foray into the actions by which the Romanian state supports the integration and non-discrimination of Roma at the national level, after the post-December period, when the social, economic, and political realities of Romania were redefined. The method used is qualitative, based on the analysis of various documents, with data obtained from both primary and secondary sources. The post-December legislative and visionary technique tends towards a multicultural approach in relation to the Roma community. Thus, the current legislative and institutional adaptations were accompanied by a special dynamism, following a structural logic. The persistent cleavage between the majority and ethnic Roma, despite the measures taken, seems to be maintained. The complexity of the difficulties they face requires proactive state intervention. Thus, affirmative action is a remedial and necessary instrument which needs to be used more actively to reduce the gaps in various social areas. The conclusions are clear, from our point of view: even if the actions are complex and judiciously crafted, the actions are poorly executed for several reasons. Although there is a growing ethnic mobilization, the state is inadequately addressing the situation. In its latest approaches, the state tends to emphasize the cultural side of the Roma and to improve the actions, at least on a theoretical and discursive level.

Distant control of sanitary legislation compliance: goals, objectives, prospects for implementation

The article discusses the main aspects of the draft “Concept for the implementation distant control/monitoring forms of sanitary requirements compliance (remote/contactless supervision).” The project document was developed according to the “National Action Plan Ensuring the Recovery of Employment and Incomes of the Population, Economic Growth and Long-Term Structural Changes in the Economic” control in the Russian Federation”. It has been determined that introducing remote forms of supervision is the general improvement of the state control system with a general decrease in the administrative burden on business entities. The task is also to identify the negative trends in the activities of organizations at the earliest possible stages and adopt proactive state response measures to violations of the law. The concept establishes that the critical difference between remote control and contact, face-to-face forms is the most full use and science-intensive processing of data accumulated in the information field about the activity of the economic unit. The information field is formed by departmental databases collected in the Unified Information System of Rospotrebnadzor (EIAS) and external state, municipal and other databases. An analysis is carried out through remote access to information. The remote control also implies a gradual, but significant expansion of the hardware use for fixing objects and processes status (audio-photo-video tools, sensors for measuring object parameters, etc.).An intelligent information system provides information and analytical support for the entire cycle of actions provided for by the regulations for conducting remote control and supervision activities. The system focuses on identifying evidence of violation or compliance with sanitary legislation based on the study of transmitted information. The functioning of an intelligent system involves the modern methods of machine processing of big data (Big Data), including elements of artificial intelligence based on machine learning of artificial neural networks, etc. The data generated in the system is sent to the shared storage of the EIAS for the combined processing data from remote and contact supervision and systemic complex analysis with the involvement of data from social and hygienic monitoring and other departments. The phased introduction of distant control in the activities of the service requires the improvement of the regulatory, methodological, material, and technical base, as well as the human resources development in the direction, increasing the computer literacy of expert specialists, persons responsible for maintaining the information system, its administration, and ensuring uninterrupted operation. It is shown that the effectiveness of the distant control implementation with the use of information and analytical approach can reduce from 15 to 60% time for one scheduled inspection, decrease the labour costs of inspectors and specialists of supervised facilities, expanding the number of inspected objects.

Van Gogh in the Neighborhood: Creative Placemaking and Community Art in Singapore

Creative placemaking is a process involving different sectors of society as they collaborate in cultural activities, deepening their relations with each other and the place in which they live and work. As a supposed panacea to the woes of poorly planned spaces and apathetic communities, it hopes to address social exclusion and generate feelings of belonging as the environment is culturally and collectively enhanced. Applying the dual concepts of creative placemaking and community art, this article explores the phenomenon of Void Deck Galleries in Singapore. As more spaces in public residential environments are filled with community-created art works, the relationships between the state, artists, and local communities demand critical examination. Empirical data derived from fieldwork in three void decks in Singapore reveal a proactive state, the coordinating role of an arts organization, and the involvement of an enthusiastic although largely passive local population. The full potential for creative placemaking in Singapore remains frustrated, however, and the discussion identifies reasons for this while also contemplating avenues toward its future accomplishment.