Leader Region Research Articles

Professional development for ethnic minority public leaders in the Northern mountain regions of Vietnam: needs and barriers to their participation

ABSTRACT This article responds to the research literature gap in professional development (PD) for Vietnamese ethnic minority leaders. Thematic analysis of 32 interviews with ethnic minority public leaders from the northern mountain regions identified PD needs of leaders from disadvantaged backgrounds including (i) ideological and political training, (ii) contemporary issues in local communities, (iii) diversity and inclusion training, and (iv) leadership skills. Three key barriers to their participation in PD were also found, namely (i) poor learning environment, (ii) lack of community engagement experience, and (iii) limited government and employer support. This study underscored that northern mountain ethnic minority leaders encounter ‘mountainous challenges’ when participating in PD activities. The paper concluded with strategies towards more effective PD for ethnic minority leaders in the northern mountain regions of Vietnam. The article carries practical and policy implications for PD developers as well as ethnic minority researchers and practitioners.

“Twists and Turns”: Chief Leabua Jonathan and Cross-Border Collaborations with South Africa, 1965–1976/7

Chief Leabua Jonathan’s term as prime minister of Lesotho (then Basutoland) began in 1965, the year before the nation’s independence from Britain. During his tenure, he remained one of the few regional leaders whose leadership until the end of his term in 1976/7 was marked by a pattern of inconsistency and contradiction towards apartheid South Africa. This article attempts to illuminate the nexus between his relationship with South Africa and the consequences thereof. Furthermore, it discusses how the mid-1960s and late 1970s became a crucial period for his leadership. His prime ministership and the “twists and turns” in his foreign policy vis-à-vis South Africa are discussed. Here the diplomatic role he played within the ambit of “small states theory” and his country’s foreign policy is investigated. The article shows how under Jonathan, state politics and regional cross-border struggles and collaborations led to disputes regarding the sovereignty of Lesotho.

Climate leadership competencies in public sector organisations in the Pirkanmaa region of Finland

Regions play an important role in concretising climate change mitigation and adaptation action. In this study, we asked those who work in designing and implementing climate strategies in regional public sector organisations in the Pirkanmaa region of Finland, for their views on what is needed for climate leadership in a regional organisation. We characterise the attributes of a climate leader in the context of regional public sector organisations in terms of the resources, processes, challenges and motivations in their work on climate change mitigation and adaptation, and describe the competencies needed for regional climate leadership. This research aims to support education design better to respond to the needs of regional climate actors.

Brexit exposed: trust, influence, and the struggle for British self-esteem

ABSTRACT This paper examines the Brexit referendum vote by focusing on how national self-esteem connects with citizen desires to maintain membership in the European Union. Specifically, the analysis focuses on how the perception of the UK and Germany’s roles in the EU led to the leave vote. Given the high level of national pride among the British, Brexiters consider membership in a highly integrated organization as a blow to national self-esteem if they believe the UK has low levels of influence. Evidence demonstrates that a low perceived influence of the UK in the EU and the mistrust of the EU’s regional leader (Germany) can strongly predict the leave vote. However, even among strong nationalists, perceived high UK influence reduces the likelihood of a Brexit vote. Survey data of British voters collected two months prior to the referendum support the hypotheses.

An optimal set of criteria for the allocation of territories within the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation

The article examines the criteria for classifying regions in the Far North as part of the Arctic Zone within the Russian Federation. It evaluates a range of factors, including natural and climatic conditions, socio-economic aspects, and the medical and biological characteristics of the territories. Additionally, the article presents the outcomes of zoning the northern territories of the Russian Federation based on the natural and climatic conditions that impact human life. This analysis resulted in the identification of three criteria for determining the inclusion of territories in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation: the vegetation component of landscapes in its zonal distribution; the CAFF boundary, which proposed by the Arctic Council’s Arctic Flora and Fauna Conservation Working Group; and the level of ultraviolet deficiency, which reflects the direct impact of latitude on the natural environment and human health. These criteria are characterized by their clarity and ease of interpretation, and do not require the development or endorsement of supplementary methodological guidelines. They are easily grasped by both regional leaders and residents regarding the inclusion or exclusion of areas from the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation. Consequently, these criteria can be effectively integrated into federal legislation as directly applicable norms.

Whose democratization matters? Understanding the effects of regime change on normative changes in ASEAN

AbstractThis article aims to elucidate the varying effects of democratization in ASEAN members on the normative changes in the core principles of the “ASEAN Way.” Utilizing a regional-centric approach that emphasizes ASEAN members’ agency, the article posits that two critical variables shape the changing trajectory of ASEAN norms: ASEAN members' democratic performances and their regional status. While an ASEAN member’s democratic performance influences its willingness to advocate for normative changes, its regional status is also crucial in determining its capability to implement changes by navigating the divergent interests among ASEAN members. Only the ASEAN member with a high-quality democratic performance at home and recognized regional leadership can effectively bring about normative changes to ASEAN norms. Otherwise, either the domestic democratic deficit or a lack of leadership status will hinder the ASEAN members’ efforts to promote normative changes. Using the process-tracing method, the article empirically focuses on the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia for comparative case studies. The findings reveal that the Philippines’ poor democratic performance since the democratic restoration in 1986 has hindered its motivation to push for normative changes in ASEAN, rendering the Philippines a reluctant promoter. Although Thailand has made notable achievements in democratic consolidation since the downfall of junta rule in 1992, its lack of regional leadership has greatly limited its capability to reconcile the divergent interests among ASEAN members, resulting in the failure of its “flexible engagement” initiative. Conversely, Indonesia, with a high-quality democratic performance at home and bolstered by its regional leadership status, successfully brought significant changes to ASEAN norms by facilitating the ASEAN Charter signed in 2007.

Issues of Agglomeration Identity Policy in Statements of Russian Regional Politicians: Discourse Analysis of the Social Network “Vkontakte” Materials

The article examines how issues of identity construction in Russian urban agglomerations are reflected in the Russian regional politicians’ discourse in mass media. The study concerns theoretical problems of identity construction and the role of regional government bodies in shaping the territorial identity of the population. The specificity of the Russian situation is the absence of governing bodies related to the agglomeration level in most urban agglomerations. The empirical basis of the study is the texts of subnational politicians posted on the official websites of regional government bodies: websites of governors and regional governments, official pages in the mass media. The empirical information on identity policy were collected from the Internet sources (official portals of regional executive authorities, media reports). Discourse analysis was carried out after monitoring social media materials (VKontakte web-pages of regional leaders). The article reflects five cases out of sixteen Russian ones related to the Ural and Siberian agglomerations with a megalopolis core. The empirical data cover the period from December 2022 to the end of 2023. The choice of the time period for analysis is determined by the fact that by this period the most significant factors influencing the policy of our state at present (the pandemic and the Special military operation) have already manifested themselves in full. It has been confirmed that the problems of agglomeration development in the public official subfederal discourse in most cases are reduced to economic problems; first of all, it concerns the development of industry, science (high technology), transport, and waste disposal. In all analyzed cases, insufficient attention was found out, paid to the role of the implemented socio-cultural projects of subfederal identity policy, and also distancing from the discussion of the problems of integration of labor migrants in the public space. Insignificant number of messages from representatives of the regional political and administrative elite about the socio-cultural meanings of the formed agglomerations can become a significant limitation of information support for the agglomeration development of modern contemporary Russia.

Peranan Aisyiyah Cabang Sebangau di Lahan Gambut Kota Palangka Raya dalam Ketahanan Pangan

Aisyiyah is an Islamic women's movement organization formed by Muhammadiyah, this organization since its inception until now, even more, and more various efforts have been made, including in the fields of religion, education, social and economics, which have benefited the Indonesian people in general and Muslims in particular. One of the 'Aisyiyah movements in the social field is the establishment of Posbakum Aisyiyah in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights, from the Central Leadership of 'Aisyiyah to the regions. The existence of 'Aisyiyah reached the Regional Leader of 'Aisyiyah Central Kalimantan, at the time of the current Covid-19 Pandemic, the role of women has become more increased in domestic roles as well as in fulfilling the economic needs of the family at this time. This study aims to describe the role and form of the role of 'Aisyiyah Kalampangan Branch in Peatlands to Women in increasing family food security. This research was conducted at 'Aisyiyah Kalampangan Branch, Palangka Raya City, Jalan Mahir Mahar Trans Kalimantan Palangka Raya using observation methods (field and participation), interviews (in-depth interviews, taking notes, recording, listening, observing, and capturing using a camera) and literature studies. Data analysis used a simple tabulation to describe the conditions and characteristics of the research site. The processed data is displayed in a table. The targeted finding in this research is the obtaining of a role description by 'Aisyiyah Kalampangan Branch in Peatlands of Palangka Raya City.

Brazil's Foreign Policy in the Emerging Multipolar World: Data-Driven Strategic Positioning within BRICS and Beyond

In the multipolar world, Brazil's foreign policy faces complex geopolitical realities as a part of its strategy to expand its global influence and economic presence. On another front, Brazil considers itself one of the leading countries in the Global South. It has partnered with BRICS to call for better transport, and help has a say in running the world (power balance) instead of being overruled by Western powers. Brazil demonstrates regional leadership by actively participating in initiatives like the New Development Bank and organizations such as MERCOSUR, CELAC, and BRICS, emphasizing its commitment to sustainable development and regional cooperation. The plan is to broaden Brazil's regional power reach, seeking economic and diplomatic relations throughout the planet. Brazilian foreign policy is characterized by a pragmatic search for equidistance, maximizing economic possibilities and strategic ties without ever fully committing to any one bloc or country. These measures will increase Brazil's clout on global issues and solidify the country as a critical factor in shaping a more equitable and representative international order.

How do local governments implement e-government: A case study from Bali Province, Indonesia

The assessment of the e-government index in Indonesia began in 2018. This year, the Bali Province e-government index was only 1.6 (maximum 5). In 2021, 2022, and 2023, the Bali Province e-government index is 3.68, 3.84, and 4.07, respectively. This index is the highest for the provincial category and higher than the national e-government index. This study aims to determine the triumphant factor in implementing e-government in the Bali Province. The research was conducted using structured and in-depth interviews with stakeholders related to e-government management in the Bali Province. Furthermore, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis was used to formulate the e-government implementation. The study has discovered five factors influencing the success of e-government implementation in Bali Province, including regional leaders' commitment, regulations, planning, governance and management, and human resources. The result also shows that leadership is the most influential factor in the successful implementation of e-government in Bali Province. Determination of the vision, mission, technical policies, planning, and performance evaluation is carried out in an organised and structured manner. Other evidence of support is realised through allocating a particular budget, providing human resources, and adequately delegating authority. While the findings of this paper will only close a small part of the knowledge gap, further research is still needed by sampling other provinces in Indonesia.

Rise and Fall of Democracy in Regional Government: From Assignment to Election

Indonesia has been trying to develop democracy since the early independence. Assignment of the head of the region conducted from 1945 to 1999. After the big reformation in 1999, which started in 2004, Indonesia started a new chapter with the direct election model for regional heads. This research tries to find the philosophy of Indonesia’s choice to select its regional leader according to the law provided. The research is normative research with a conceptual and comparative approach. The results show that the election of regional leaders in Indonesia has not always been in line with the sovereignty of the people and the concept of democracy. Political choice has had a very significant impact. However, as it turns out into practice, as an emerging country in South East Asia, even though an assignment and not by the general election, leaders or regional heads are also considered as democratic as long as it is still on the path of openness, fair game and also according to people’s approval, including if it comes from the regional representative’s choice of candidates.

Paymob: transforming digital payments in Egypt and the region for a cashless society

Learning outcomes After completion of the case study, the students will be able to analyze the FinTech industry in emerging markets, distinguish the growth strategies for startups in the hyper-growth phase, using the Ansoff matrix, evaluate and select geographical markets for expansion (foreign country selection) and understand the liability of foreignness concept. Case overview/synopsis In 2015, Islam Shawky, Alain Al-Hajj and Mostafa Menessy founded Paymob in Egypt, a FinTech start-up providing technological and financial solutions to consumers and merchants in the country. The company had grown into one of Egypt’s most prominent digital payment providers by deploying infrastructure and technologies that empower the underserved with access to financial services. In 2021, Paymob had gained a lot of support from venture capital investors that ended with closing the largest in Egypt Series A fund of $18.5m led by Dubai-based venture capital firm Global Ventures. Although Paymob had already reached great success in Egypt, the founders’ vision was to become the regional leader of digital payments, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises. So, they are considering regional markets similar to Egypt’s, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a call with a lot of structure but a lot of competition, and Pakistan, a market with much less competition but relatively unstructured. The founders found themselves in early 2022 deciding between these two markets in preparation for the next round of Series B $50m funding. Complexity academic level This case study can be useful for courses in executive education. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

ИЗ ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОЙ БИОГРАФИИ Х. А. ПАЭСА: КОНФЛИКТ БОЛИВАРИАНСКОЙ ИДЕОЛОГИИ И ЛАТИНОАМЕРИКАНСКИХ ЛАТИФУНДИСТОВ В 1826–1827 гг.

The article examines the contradictions that arose in the political leadership of the independent state of Greater Colombia after liberation of Latin America territory from Spain. After Simon Bolivar, the leader of revolution movement, organized the administration of Greater Colombia, disagreements began among the regional leaders of the federation, backed by local landowning and trading elites and caudillos, mainly due to contradictions between personal interests and attempts at state centralization of land question by the new power. Also the leaders of Venezuela and Columbia didn’t agree with the Bolivar wishes to unite all newly free territories in one confederate state – And confederation – following the United States of America. The main struggle unfolded between the appointed Vice-President of the Great Columbia Francisco de Paula Santander and Venezuelan military leader Jose Antonio Paez. This led Paez to a request sent to Bolivar to assume, as the leader of the nation and the entire liberation movement, full power in Greater Colombia, and as a result of this Bolivar reconciled rival powers.

A Study of the Influence of Religious and Nationalist-Based Political Parties in the Compilation of Legal Products Based on Legal Regulations

The ideology of political parties is divided into four categories: parties with Islamic ideology, secular nationalist ideology, religious nationalist ideology, and parties with Christian ideology. The regeneration process will bring out prospective leaders who have been tested in carrying out organisational work or society, and then the emerging decisions will be directed at achieving the goals of the country. These party cadres make a reflection of political parties related to ideology, which is expected to make policies in accordance with ideology, through being regional leaders. The research method used is sociological juridical with a qualitative descriptive analysis approach to obtain the answers to the problems studied, supported by secondary data and other data. When referring to the party principles owned by each political party, in general, political parties are based on three ideologies: Islam, Nationalism and Democratic Socialism. Political parties have an obligation to be able to build their own capacity; therefore, they have sufficient capability to fulfill what has been mandated by law. The fading of ideology has weakened the ties between political parties and their members, which in turn has resulted in the weakness of organisational networks. This condition leads the political parties to face an extreme dilemma. The way to collect party funds is by making policies that benefit certain parties. However, with transactional politics, the policies taken are not pro-people. The importance of the party's stand in policymaking is marked by their close relationship with elected and appointed political officials. For this reason, the party can see its role and influence in public policy using organisational theory. This fact shows that political parties are a more powerful element in the policy-making process than they should be.

A New Member of BRICS — Egypt

The article analyzes the political, economic and cultural development of Egypt over several millennia. It is claimed that Egypt is an ancient civilization, the «heart» of the Arab world and a recognized regional leader. The author explores the history of various state entities that existed on the territory of modern Egypt in the era of the Ancient World, Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Modern times. The emphasis is consistently placed on the rule of the pharaohs, Egypt’s presence in the Persian and especially the Greco-Roman world, the periods of the Arab conquest, Ottoman and British rule, the functioning of the independent Kingdom of Egypt and the Arab Republic of Egypt that succeeded it in 1953. The article contains a detailed overview of key events in the country’s internal life over the past 70 years, as well as Cairo’s activities in the international arena, including participation in the Arab-Israeli wars, relations with global and regional actors in the second half of the XX – early XXI centuries, the current position of the state as one of the leaders of the African continent. It is indicated that Egypt ranks first in Africa in terms of GDP, third in terms of population, has serious scientific and technical potential and advanced financial system by regional standards, actively attracts foreign investment and new technologies. In the field of foreign policy, Egypt, while maintaining relations with Western powers, is intensely cooperating with new centers of power, including Russia. The author concludes that today the Arab Republic of Egypt is a powerful regional actor that is diversifying its foreign policy and economic ties, as reflected by the country’s entry into the BRICS.

Characterization of IgD and IgT with their expressional analysis following subtype II megalocytivirus vaccination and infection in rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus)

In this study, heavy chain genes of IgD and IgT were sequenced and characterized their gene expression in rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). Rock bream (RB)-IgD cDNA is 3319 bp in length and encodes a leader region, variable domains, a μ1 domain, and seven constant domains (CH1–CH7). A membrane-bound (mIgT) and secretory form (sIgT) of RB-IgT cDNAs are 1902 bp and 1689 bp in length, respectively, and encode a leader region, variable domains, four constant domains (CH1–CH4) and C-terminus. Their predicted 3D-structure and phylogenetic relation were similar to those of other teleost. In healthy fish, RB-IgD and mIgT gene expressions were higher in major lymphoid organs and blood, while RB-sIgT gene was more highly expressed in midgut. IgT expressing cells were detected in melano-macrophage centers (MMC) of head kidney in immunohistochemistry analysis. Under immune stimulation in vitro, RB-IgD and IgT gene expressions were upregulated in head kidney and spleen cells by bovine serum albumin or a rock bream iridovirus (RBIV) vaccine. In vivo, their expressions were significantly upregulated in head kidney, blood, and gill upon vaccination. Especially, RB-mIgT gene expression in head kidney and blood was upregulated at day 3 after vaccination while upregulated at earlier time point of day 1 by challenge with RBIV. This may suggest that memory cells might be produced during the primary response by vaccination and rapidly proliferated by secondary immune response by viral infection. RB-sIgT gene expression was highly upregulated in peripheral blood in vaccinated fish after viral infection, indicating that IgT plays an important role in systemic immune response as well as mucosal immune system. Our findings provide information on the role of RB-IgT in adaptive immunity during vaccination and viral infection in the vaccinated fish.

Pemetaan Pandangan dan cita-cita Hidup Warga Muhammadiyah di Eks Karesidenan Surakarta

This research aims to produce a mapping of the ideological strength of Muhammadiyah in terms of its perspectives and aspirations within the former Surakarta residency area. The study employs a quantitative approach, focusing on respondents' perceptions regarding Muhammadiyah's views and life aspirations. A total of 208 respondents participated in the study, and data collection utilized a measurement tool for Muhammadiyah's ideological strength developed by Subando, Samsuri, and Muslimin. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The research findings indicate that the Muhammadiyah Regional Leaders (Pimpinan Daerah Muhammadiyah, PDM) of Klaten achieved the highest score (4.77), indicating the most favorable assessments of Muhammadiyah's perspectives and aspirations. They were followed by PDM Sukoharjo (4.26), PDM Boyolali (4.25), PDM Surakarta (4.19), and PDM Karanganyar with the lowest score (3.99). Based on these findings, PDM Karanganyar could benchmark against other PDMs and adopt the internalization pattern of strengthening Muhammadiyah's ideology in the Klaten region as a model.

PRODUCT PACKAGING AND DIGITAL MARKETING TRAINING FOR MSME MEMBERS OF PDA NORTH LOMBOK

The Aisyiyyah Regional Leadership (PDA) is one of the organisations under Muhammadiyah that has women members distributed across all provinces in Indonesia. One such organisation is the North Lombok PDA. The North Lombok PDA has a significant number of members who are micro-entrepreneurs, but they are still lacking in terms of product promotion. The objective of this service activity is to enhance the knowledge and skills of the North Lombok PDA members in the domains of product packaging and digital-based marketing. The methodology employed in this service activity is Participatory Action Research, wherein the partners assume an active role in the activity. The enhancement of the participants' knowledge and abilities was gauged through pre- and post-tests and practical assessments. The effectiveness of the service is evaluated through a satisfaction questionnaire completed by participants at the conclusion of the event. The service activity was conducted over a two-day period and was executed in an orderly and seamless manner. The results of the pre- and post-test data processing demonstrate that there was an increase in the participants' knowledge before and after they were given counselling material. The increase in participant knowledge was 25%. In conclusion, the results of the participant satisfaction questionnaire indicate that the service activity was a success. The participants' assessment per indicator was predominantly positive, with the majority scoring in the good and excellent categories.

TRAINING IN CASSAVA PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY INTO VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL FOODS

Cassava is a local commodity that can be processed into functional food. Functional food is defined as a food or drink that provides nutrients for the body while simultaneously maintaining a healthy body. Although there has been a long tradition of processing cassava into traditional snacks, the decreasing interest of consumers, especially young people, in traditional snacks makes it necessary to innovate products. For instance, the processing of cassava into contemporary products such as nuggets, sponge cake, and tapai drinks. The objective of this community service activity is to educate partners regarding the necessity of consuming functional food, particularly from local commodities such as cassava, and to instruct partners on the processing of cassava, which is abundant in their area, into various functional food products with commercial value. The partners of this activity were members of the West Lombok 'Aisyiyyah Regional Leadership (PDA), a total of 16 women. The service activity is divided into three sessions: functional food counselling, cassava processing practice, and practice using sealers to package products. Prior to and following the activity, participants were administered a test to assess the impact of the service activity on their knowledge and skills in processing functional food and packaging products. The results of the pre- and post-test data processing indicate that there have been significant changes (32.5% improvement) in the participants' knowledge. Furthermore, the results of the observations of the participants' practical activities demonstrate that all participants have been able to process cassava into a variety of contemporary functional food products with a selling value and have become proficient in using cup and hand sealers.

Visa-on-arrival, ECOWAS-free Mobility and the Securitisation of the Intra-African Migration in Nigeria

Over the years, Nigeria’s regional hegemonic leadership in (West) Africa, especially within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, has been debated within academic and foreign relations circles. A major component of this regional leadership aspiration was its quest for a ‘borderless Africa’. As an important arrowhead of its pro-African foreign policy, the Nigerian government proactively crafted a benign national border policy to give practical expression to the free mobility of persons and goods within the West African subregion. Despite a demonstrable commitment to free mobility within Africa over the years, Abuja suddenly imposed a restrictive border policy shortly after it signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and approved the contentious visa-on-arrival for African migrants. Considering this context, this study makes three arguments: First, it interrogates the rationale behind the liberal border diplomacy of the Nigerian government. Secondly, the paper contends that the inability to ‘silence the guns’ in Africa despite all efforts has seriously militated against the aspiration for intra-African mobility and borderless Community in West Africa. Lastly, the study examines the dire implications of Nigerian nationalistic border diplomacy and its declining soft power for the future of ‘borderless West Africa’.