Small Country Research Articles

Universities as Subjects of International Relations: The Potential of Kyrgyzstan

Against the backdrop of intensifying international competition between global players and international conflicts, small and poor countries are forced to look for mechanisms to ensure sovereignty and stability, including through the development of scientific and educational sovereignty. Therefore, the question becomes relevant: under what conditions can universities become effective subjects of international relations and help their states increase competitiveness? The status of universities as subjects of international relations is determined by the degree of their international subjectivity. International subjectivity is defined as the ability of universities to independently, regardless of the requirements of external foreign actors, determine the vectors and policies of international cooperation based on the norms, principles, goals and values of national educational systems. The authors of the article describe the conditions and indicators of such subjectivity. The mechanisms for integrating universities into international relations are considered: internationalization of the academic environment, participation in international associations; international rating. The positive aspects, opportunities, risks and contradictions of introducing these mechanisms into national educational systems are identified. Using the experience of Russian universities as an example, it is shown how, under critical conditions, these mechanisms become instruments of political pressure. Based on statistics, analysis of government decisions and the practice of universities in Kyrgyzstan, their potential as subjects of international relations are analyzed. It has been proven that now and in the near future, Kyrgyz universities will be located on the periphery of the global educational space, but have great potential for regional leadership. Kyrgyzstan needs to focus on developing this potential in the near future.

Science diplomacy merging with commercial diplomacy in small and developed countries

Science diplomacy merging with commercial diplomacy in small and developed countries

Why Do SMEs Adopt Artificial Intelligence-Based Chatbots?

Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to the emergence of new technologies offering unique business opportunities. This article examines the factors influencing AI-based chatbot implementation by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We grounded the article's conceptual model in the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework. Employing a quantitative research methodology, we collected data from 292 SME respondents via an online survey. We then utilized covariance-based structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The empirical results reveal that perceived employee capability, perceived availability of financial support, perceived top management support, perceived cost, perceived complexity, and perceived relative advantage are positively associated with SMEs' AI-based chatbot adoption intention. This article, thus, contributes to the scarce literature on the adoption of AI-based chatbots for SMEs in developing small island countries. The findings provide meaningful insights to developers, marketers, and SMEs to enhance firms’ performance and competitiveness by increasing the adoption of AI-based chatbots.

Peculiarities of the Operation оf Optical Communication in case of emergencies

Today, in connection with the beginning of the full-scale armed invasion of the RF on the territory of Ukraine, questions related to fire safety and stable electricity supply have arisen before our state. It. in turn, led to numerous problems in the communication system. Against this background, after damage to power supply lines and strategic objects, the search and deployment of power supplies independent of the usual supply sources became urgent. After all, under the conditions of emergency and planned power outages, only the presence of such means of power supply as fuel generators and batteries make it possible to provide work and training for a huge number of people. Thanks to the fact that people, without wasting time and wasting energy on unnecessary things and affairs, began to work on the issue that is associated with a sudden or planned power outage for known or not entirely known reasons, work for most people resumed. Autonomous power sources were fuel generators. Small shopping centers and shopping and entertainment centers have installed powerful diesel generators on their premises to power large premises. Some installed one diesel generator on each individual wing. This was done if the room was too large for one diesel generator. Small establishments, for example: cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, hookah bars, small offices, offices, workshops, etc. installed gasoline generators if the premises were the size of a garage, a three-room apartment with an area of 92 m2 or the size of a small two-story country house with walls 8 meters long each and ceilings up to 2 meters high. Powerful diesel generators were installed in the premises, which were more than 100 m2 in area. Most generators had an automatic start feature. Some generators had an installed automatic start function, and some did not have this function, and therefore had to install this function separately. Telecommunications companies and mobile communication service companies and provider companies that sell and service cable Internet also did not waste time and effort and also installed generators on their territories. Provider companies and mobile communication service companies were the first to decide to install autonomous emergency power supplies in their territories. This was done on purpose, since the equipment that provided and monitored wireless and cable Internet services and mobile communications services was powered by network electricity, and during the absence of network electricity, the equipment obviously stopped working. Because of this, cable Internet and mobile communications were lost, which had a negative impact on some citizens of Ukraine. It had a negative impact on them, since some citizens, as mentioned above, could work or study remotely. Someone lost their job, someone lost their business due to power outages. Also in connection with this, huge accounting gaps appeared. The introduction and use of emergency power helps solve this problem.

Инвестиционная деятельность КНР в Кыргызской Республике

The article discusses the investment infusion of China into the economy of Kyrgyzstan in 1992–2022. The independence of the countries of Central Asia in 1991 meant a fundamental change in the geopolitical environment for the PRC: small sovereign countries appeared in the Western part of China, internal and external courses and development prospects were connected with each other. The Chinese government was sure that this region would play an important role for them, especially they could act as a source of resources for the Chinese economy. In addition to the common border with the west of China, this region has overland communication routes with China, which contribute to maintaining very close trade and economic relations, Central Asia exports energy and natural resources, and the region is a market for Chinese investment and sales of material goods. China’s investment activity has developed in Kyrgyzstan mainly in the mining industry, energy, promotion of infrastructure projects, construction of joint ventures and other sectors of the economy. The authors, analyzing the investment relations of the two countries, classified them into three stages, show their specific impact on bilateral relations, and also consider the impact of investment cooperation on partners, which has been developing rapidly since 2013 under the One Belt, One Road project. Investment relations between China and Kyrgyzstan are accompanied by both successes and contradictions. From here they face many problems, and in this regard, both sides must adjust their approaches to cooperation. The study as a whole is based on extensive factual material, the latest sources, including data from the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, and legal documents of the two countries. The analysis shows that the development of investment relations is part of the strategy of China’s foreign policy and foreign economic progress – the formation of stable states, including Kyrgyzstan, around its own borders, for which Beijing implements investment projects at the regional level. Also, the presence in the country of a large Uyghur diaspora, as well as the Muslim population of the Kyrgyz as a whole, requires China to make great efforts and various tools to establish cooperation and implement joint projects. In addition, Kyrgyzstan is one of the main channels for diversifying energy supplies to China. However, the fall in the pace of economic development on a global scale due to the pandemic, fluctuations in world prices for energy resources lead to the fact that Kyrgyzstan is also interested in cooperation with China. It is obvious that China’s influence in the region as a whole and in Kyrgyzstan in particular will grow, and, consequently, investment cooperation between the two countries will also develop.

Geopolitical Positioning of a Small State: Serbia in the Shadow of Yugoslavia’s ‘Third Way’

This article examines Serbia’s positioning in the East-West axis during the post-Cold War era. This is a specific example of the ‘third way’ in twenty-first century geopolitical behaviour. The small country remains non-aligned within the existing alliances of the East and the West, trying to find a balance between their influence and remaining faithful to its national interests. Although with far more modest resources, the situation of the Serbian state is reminiscent of the fate of Yugoslavia, which was among the initiators of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Relying on substantial empirical evidence, this article claims that being a small state is not an insurmountable obstacle to pursuing an assertive foreign policy, albeit at the cost of complicated relations with neighbouring countries and those geopolitical forces dominating the current world order. Summarising the Serbian experience in ‘third way’ geopolitics, a model of multiple asymmetries in interrelations between the small state and great powers is elaborated.

Review of the monograph by Lyubodrag Dimić “Between East and West. Yugoslavia, Superpowers and the issue of security in Europe (1945–1975)”

Using mainly Serbian archival materials, L. Dimić fits the history of Yugoslav foreign policy into the broader context of international relations during the Cold War, the politics of superpowers, the emergence and development of the Non-Aligned Movement and the discussion of security in Europe. The book shows how a small country achieved serious diplomatic and international political success, which was not protected by pacts or guarantees of superpowers.

Women in the sustainability new ventures in the digital era: Out from the shadow of the small country male-dominated startup ecosystem

<p>Environmental sustainability has become one of the key issues for the future development of the European Union (EU). Estonia's startup entrepreneurship contributes prominently to innovative ideas in energy technology and information and communication technology (ICT) applications, essential for sustainability. Research and education are prerequisites for innovation in both fields. The gap in educational levels between Estonian women and men, favoring women, is among the largest in the EU. However, the proportion of women in entrepreneurship is significantly lower, even though the share of women in ICT personnel is among the highest in Europe. This study sought to determine women's contribution to sustainability (technology) startups in the context of these contrasting gaps. The article's dataset was based on sources such as the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Ministry of Education and Science, Business Register, and Startup Ecosystem. It qualitatively analyzed the sustainability orientation of ventures and the gender structure of founders across nearly 1300 startups and clarified the share of selected startups' fundraising within the entire ecosystem. Through a simple regression analysis, we uncovered some short-term trends. Our findings indicate that 92% of the accumulated €4.46 billion in startup funding is foreign capital, and 171 sustainability startups account for nearly 63% of the ecosystem's total fundraising. Among the founders of top-invested startups, only 6% are women, whereas women constitute 23% of the founders of sustainability startups. Despite this, sustainability startups with female participation have secured only 2.2% of the total investments in the sustainability group, highlighting a drastic gender disproportion. However, the fundraising trend for women's sustainability startups founded in the last five years is more positive, reaching 24% of this group's investments. Although their overall share remains significantly lower compared with the entire startup ecosystem, this emerging trend is a promising sign of the breakthrough for female entrepreneurs in a traditionally male-dominated sector. The article's conclusion summarizes the study's results and suggests future gender-based research and development opportunities.</p>

Белорусская модель экспорта услуг высшего образования: история формирования и современные вызовы

The research aims to identify the features of the Belarusian model of higher education services export. The research objectives are to characterize the place of the Republic of Belarus at the global market of higher education services, identify the prerequisites for the formation of its model for the higher education services export, and identify the key factors influencing the current functioning of this model. The peculiarity of the Belarusian model of higher education services export is attracting international students directly in the country, instead of developing foreign branch campuses or dual-diploma programs. The formation of this model was influenced by the dominance of public sector in higher education and the overall limited potential of the higher education system. However, since 2007 the Republic of Belarus has been pursuing the policy of stimulating educational export. This policy was successful in increasing the turnover and balance of foreign trade in educational services, as well as reducing the traditionally negative balance of international student mobility for the country. The factor influencing positively the Belarusian export of higher education services is its competitive advantage, namely, its relatively low cost of higher education for international students. However, the international situation since 2022 prevents the Belarusian higher education system from being a transit point for international students receiving Belarusian higher education for further relocation to the European Higher Education Area countries. From a theoretical point of view, this research is intended to initiate a discussion about the place and policy features of small countries in the higher education services market. Taking into account the historical kinship of the Russian and Belarusian higher education systems, as well as the similarity of the international situation that has developed for them, understanding the experience of the Republic of Belarus allows formulating the following recommendations for the development of Russian export of higher education services: it is necessary to maintain the level of financing for higher education comparable to the competitors and a high quality of higher education; it is worth updating and expanding the contractual basis for educational cooperation, in particular, seeking to expand the number of agreements on the mutual recognition of educational documents; it is worth supporting a variety of formats for exporting higher education services, including the incoming student mobility, creation of foreign branch campuses of Russian universities and network/dual-diploma programs.

Assessing Climate Finance Practices in Developing Countries: A Systematic Literature Review

The purpose of this study is to investigate climate financing practice in developing countries by following the systematic literature review process. Emerging scholarly and policy literature conclude that developing and small island Pacific countries are the most vulnerable in the world and similarly they have facing a big gap between the requirement of adaptation and mitigating financing and actual funds received by them. Developing countries are facing various problems such as Local level / beneficiaries’ participation & Green Climate Fund mobilization, unified reporting framework challenges, lack of effectiveness in Green Climate Fund (GCF) mobilization and transparency in mobilization, Governance, and policy focus, integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in theory and practice etc. By following the rigorous systematic literature review process, it found that these countries are trying to overcome from such problems which may country specific and some have similar to other countries. It is found that government, multilateral and bilateral funding is insufficient so that capacity building of the local communities and attracting of private investment in climate financing activities is crucial to the sustainability roadmap of the countries.

만경강유역 마한 분묘의 전개 양상과 의미

Changes in the culture of Mahan tombs in the Mangyeonggang River basin can be divided into the period of prosperity of Jeokseok Wooden Tomb and the Tomb of the Tokwang (Mokgwan) Tomb related to the establishment of Mahan, the period of prosperity of the Bungu Tomb, and the period of traditional continuity of the Bungu Tomb after the Baekje Kingdom.
 Jeokseokmokgwanmyo and Tokwangmyo were central tombs during the establishment of Mahan, and the distribution of numerous large-scale cluster Tokwangmyo in this area is also an active basis for showing that the Mangyeonggang River basin was the most important area and center in relation to the establishment of Mahan. It can be said that the influx of new groups and cultures played a major role in the region rather than the instrumental development of indigenous forces due to the formation of a new culture different from before.
 Bungumyo is the central tomb of Mahan, which began to appear in the area when the earthenware tombs were prevalent and was used for a long time until the mid-6th century when it was replaced by a complete Baekje culture after the territorialization of Baekje. At first, it has an independent graveyard and emerges around the 2nd century B.C. in the form of a general, and gradually the connection of the main building and burial facilities change into a multi-section, and a series of changes occur through various types of expansion. However, depending on the region, there are differences in the multiple-place pattern centered on the burial subject and the non-burial subject, and in Iksan, regional features such as Wanju Sangun-ri and Jeonju Jangdong are not identified. In addition, in the southern region, starting with the Geumgang River, the appearance of a large-scale dedicated coffin is another characteristic of this region, as the pattern of the retaining tube is generally seen in the appearance of a large-scale dedicated coffin.
 In addition, it is difficult to find an instrumental development process and succession from the culture of the Tokwang (woodwind) Tomb during the previous Mahan period. However, the culture of the tomb can also be seen as the emergence of a new culture, but in general, factors that can be examined for the connection with the culture of indigenous forces before the Tokwang(wooden) tomb culture are identifiedrather than the introduction and spread of culture at once. This is also a matter that needs to be studied more.
 It is difficult to grasp the aspect of Mahan small country in the Mangyeonggang River basin area only with archaeological data of residential and tomb. However, hierarchies and hierarchies have been identified between remains in the earth mine (wooden) tomb stage during the Mahan establishment period, but it is still difficult to distinguish the territorial rights within the region during this period and to observe regional characteristics. It is believed that a full-fledged small Mahan-level political body will be possible in the stage of the prosperity of the tomb, where regional characteristics become clear. Considering the distribution patterns and characteristics of residential and tomb sites, it is estimated that the area can be divided into about 10 to 11 areas, which is somewhat similar to the county and prefecture units during the Baekje period.

Economic Vulnerability of Small Powers

The purpose of this article is to identify the national security challenges of a small state, to highlight their external and internal aspects; based on the research, develop a rational economic and political strategy for small powers. The paper is based on the analysis and synthesis of various fundamental literature and specific statistical data. The paper draws conclusions using causeand-effect relationships of facts. Important conclusions and recommendations are presented on key issues and challenges around small countries. This article concerns countries with small powers and their essential features – especially security, economic development, political stability, and foreign policy. It is also well understood today that threats of a military and nonmilitary nature are closely linked and that the aggravation of one leads to the aggravation of another. The systemic approach has taken root in the study of security issues, which involves discussing not just one but all of the potential threats in relation to one another and in one another’s context. The results of this study indicate that no matter how flexible a small country’s foreign policy is and how quickly it responds to changing conditions and events, it must still define its own strategic goal and make strategic choices. In determining its own national security priorities and foreign policy strategy, a small country must be more precise and infallible than a strong one. A small state that makes the wrong choice in its survival strategy is usually doomed.

Marketing in the Context of Small Non- Profit Organisations

The application of the marketing concept has been accepted as appropriate in the non-profit context. Non-profit market orientation scales arguably fail to capture the main dimensions of marketing, as it is practiced and understood by smaller non-profit organisations (NPOs) that dominate the non-profit landscape in small countries like Bulgaria. The paper presents the results from a mixed method research study that included in-depth interviews with managers of prominent Bulgarian NPOs and structured interviews with representatives of active non-profit organisations in Bulgaria. The research aimed to understand how active Bulgarian NPOs implement the marketing concept and to establish the main dimensions of marketing orientation in this context. The results showed that non-profit marketing is mostly implemented through brand building and communication activities. Furthermore, donors tend to significantly limit the use of marketing instruments to avoid the commercialisation of non-profit initiatives, which reduces the ability of grant-dependent organisations to apply a comprehensive and consistent marketing strategy. We established that influencing the environment is an overarching motive for NPOs to be marketing oriented and we introduce the concept of impact orientation as a potential dimension of non-profit marketing orientation. Impact orientation was identified as one of the main dimensions of the nonprofit marketing orientation of active Bulgarian NPOs.

#FutureGen – Lessons from a Small Country?

#FutureGen – Lessons from a Small Country?

Online Media, Civic Engagement, and the Prevention of Religious Radicalism: Together for an Inclusive Future (A View of Empirical Evidence)

The current increase in religiously motivated radicalism is a serious social problem in various countries. Through our qualitative research, which was based on the knowledge and experience of experts recorded during the focus group interview, it was possible to identify the most frequent causes of religious radicalism in Slovakia today. The Slovak Republic, a small post-communist country in the region of Eastern Europe, served as an empirical example for research purposes. Following the research findings, a second research objective was set, namely to present the possibilities and contribution of citizen journalism that can play a key role in tracking, documenting and sharing cases of religious radicalism. The research presents the causes of religious radicalism and the optimal possibilities of citizen journalism, which would adequately respond to contemporary religious radicalism with the use of online media. The activities of “people’s journalists” appear not only as a trigger for public debate that takes place on social media, blogs, and independent journalistic platforms but also as a necessary voice calling for accountability and transparency of solutions concerning religious radicalism, which is inherently complex and a multifactorial process, often leading to extremism. This study attempts to answer the question of why civic engagement using online media is important in this issue.

A.A. Gromyko and Security Policy: Strategic Detente Project

The article continues the study of the role of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR A.A. Gromyko in the shaping, development and maintenance of security policy, its principles and structural elements. The relevance of the article is determined by the importance of strategy and strategic thinking in modern foreign policy and diplomacy, their influence on interstate cooperation, the evolution and manageability of international relations. The subject of the article is the study of the strategic project of detente developed by A.A. Gromyko to 1972-1973. The chronological framework of the study is limited to 1972 and 1973. The article consists of three subsections. The first subsection examines the criteria for bilateralism and presents the conditions for concluding new agreements, substantiates the importance of purposeful work on new agreements. The second subsection analyzes the differences between formal balance and equal security. At present, the concept of «equal security» has become a structural element of the foreign policy doctrine and security doctrine of the Russian Federation. The third subsection characterizes the content of the strategic project, the features of differentiated cooperation - the interaction of the USSR with small, medium and large countries, shows the meaning of the concept of «pure national interest», mechanisms for the transition to a «long-term detente» of international tension. The author explores the approaches of A.A. Gromyko to a new system of international relations during the negotiations on the Moscow Treaty. The possible practical application of the main elements of the project in modern times is determined. The sources of the article are published documents of the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany. The author conducts the analysis on the basis of the foreign partners' assessment of the statements made by the Soviet Foreign Minister during official negotiations.

Technology Diffusion and Climate Action: A Leader–Follower Model

Can a small technology-developing country increase technology diffusion to developing countries in climate action? We argue that when a country takes into account all direct and indirect benefits from pushing forward the transnational diffusion of national green technology, a free transfer may give the country a net benefit. This result is driven by the idea that technology transfer partnerships enable the countries to tailor technology development to best fit the special circumstances of receiving countries. Such decentralised cooperation can pave the way for scalable technology diffusion. The focus is on one country’s renewable energy technology development and how this can affect climate action in major developing countries such as China and India. We propose a leader–follower model between the technology-developing country and the developing country that allows complex payoffs and focuses on a situation in which one country makes a cooperative move to solve the inherent collective action problem. This effective shared learning platform has an upscaling potential, and international organisations, such as the European External Action Service, could further facilitate technology diffusion to developing countries.

The shock of armed conflict on research and development investment: empirical evidence from cross-country data

ABSTRACT Research and Development(R&D) investments could be significantly impacted by increased social instability and economic uncertainty as a result of frequent armed conflicts. Therefore, based on cross-country panel data from 1989 to 2021, this paper develops system GMM, panel threshold and quantile models to explore the shocks on R&D investment from the different consequences of armed conflict. Results show that armed conflict's occurrence, deaths and displacements discourage investment in R&D capital and R&D personnel. Armed conflict's occurrence generates a stronger negative shock on R&D investment in Europe and the Americas than in Asia and Africa. Considering the size of the country, the negative impact of armed conflict is more pronounced for small countries and less pronounced for large countries. There are nonlinear links between armed conflicts and R&D investments when GDP is at different threshold intervals. Further, the intensity of armed conflict determines the extent to which R&D investment shrinks. Our research is critical to the effective resolution of armed conflicts to achieve peaceful development and sustainable economic growth.

Investigating the Link between Consumer Attitudes and Behaviour in the Context of Sustainable Clothing: The Role of Social Norms

This study investigates the sustainable clothing consumer attitude–behaviour link and identifies the role of social norms in this relationship. A total of 218 responses were collected in an online survey in one small European country. Findings reveal that sustainable clothing purchase behaviour is influenced by consumer attitudes towards sustainable clothing and sustainable clothing purchase intention, which acts as a mediator between consumer attitudes towards sustainable clothing and purchase behaviour. The findings uncover three types of social norms that could be represented among individuals in Lithuania, but no moderating effects were found. Unexpected results reveal that one type of social norms, that is, social order/commandment norms, influences both consumer attitudes towards sustainable clothing and their intention to purchase sustainable clothing. These findings attempt to contribute to the sustainable clothing consumer behaviour field development. Managerial implications of how to induce a change in consumer attitude and sustainable clothing purchase intentions for business leaders and public policy makers have been offered.

Assessing Freshwater Microbiomes from Different Storage Sources in the Caribbean Using DNA Metabarcoding.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and the technique of DNA metabarcoding have provided more efficient and comprehensive options for testing water quality compared to traditional methods. Recent studies have shown the efficacy of DNA metabarcoding in characterizing the bacterial microbiomes of varied sources of drinking water, including rivers, reservoirs, wells, tanks, and lakes. We asked whether DNA metabarcoding could be used to characterize the microbiome of different private sources of stored freshwater on the Caribbean Island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Two replicate water samples were obtained from three different private residential sources in Antigua: a well, an above-ground tank, and a cistern. The bacterial microbiomes of different freshwater sources were assessed using 16S rRNA metabarcoding. We measured both alpha diversity (species diversity within a sample) and beta diversity (species diversity across samples) and conducted a taxonomic analysis. We also looked for the presence of potentially pathogenic species. Major differences were found in the microbiome composition and relative abundances depending on the water source. A lower alpha diversity was observed in the cistern sample compared to the others, and distinct differences in the microbiome composition and relative abundance were noted between the samples. Notably, pathogenic species, or genera known to harbor such species, were detected in all the samples. We conclude that DNA metabarcoding can provide an effective and comprehensive assessment of drinking water quality and has the potential to identify pathogenic species overlooked using traditional methods. This method also shows promise for tracing the source of disease outbreaks due to waterborne microorganisms. This is the first study from small island countries in the Caribbean where metabarcoding has been applied for assessing freshwater water quality.