National State Research Articles

Perspective on the role of norms for institutional behavior and policy design in European cross-border regions

The article analyses how a norm scientific perspective can advance our understanding of cross-border regions and guide future directions of research. Cross-border regions are territorial spaces comprising territory from two or more national states, located directly at the borders of those spaces. Since the 1950s it has become increasingly common that cross-border organizations, constituted by local municipalities and regional authorities and sometimes private entities, are established to coordinate governance processes around shared policy problems. These organizations fit into a Type II model of European multi-level governance as complex, fluid, and carried out in overlapping jurisdictions. A norm scientific perspective focuses on joint expectations as a primary predictor of behavior and thereby on social structures as well as social transformations. In accordance with institutional theory, norms are understood as intersubjective, widely shared, but often implicit, expectations and rules that guide human behavior. The article makes two arguments. First, it argues that a norm-scientific perspective has the potential to significantly advance the scientific community's understanding of various aspects related to how cross-border cooperation emergence and functioning. Second, it argues that cross-border regions constitute a promising venue to advance the knowledge of how norms can be studied and understood.

A comparative study of proximate compositions, phytochemical constituents, and anti-nutritional contents of pulps and seeds of Garcinia buchananii fruit.

Garcinia buchananii is a tropical wild edible plant that is locally consumed in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Regional state of Ethiopia. However, there is limited information comparing nutritional, phytochemical, and anti-nutritional factors present in fruit pulps and seeds of the fruit. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and compare the proximate compositions, phytochemical constituents, and anti-nutritional contents of the fruit pulp and seeds. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 20. The proximate analysis revealed that the pulp had higher moisture content (80.52%) compared to the seed (42.4%), whereas the seed contained more crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and carbohydrate. However, the phytochemical constituents were relatively more abundant in the pulp compared to the seed. The pulp exhibited higher levels of total phenolic content (31.62%), total flavonoid content (22.27%), ascorbic acid (0.67%), and inhibition percentage (15.31%), but was lower in beta-carotene (4.60%). The fruit seed has higher anti-nutritional values than the pulp. Overall, the pulp and seeds of the Garcinia buchananii fruit are nutrient-rich and can be used in food product development and formulation. Being high in moisture content and low in anti-nutritients the pup of the plant can be utilized in the form of juice.

Nation-wide cohort of device-measured sedentary time and physical activity in the USA—the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) Accelerometry Substudy: cohort profile

PurposeThis paper describes the data collection and management methods for the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) Accelerometry Substudy, a nested cohort of device-based physical activity and sedentary time data.ParticipantsUS-based CPS-3 participants...

Identity and societal security in the Republic of Moldova

The present research analyzes the close relationship between identity issues and societal security in a broad sense, respectively civil society in particular in the current conditions of the Republic of Moldova. The specificity of the historical and political course of the current territory of the Republic of Moldova, the establishment of the national state as a product of the disintegration of the USSR, the problems of the interminable democratic transition place the issue of identity as very important one, in the context of ensuring societal security in the Republic of Moldova. The process of democratization of the society has encouraged the growth of active groups based primarily on their distinct collective identities, which has widened the social and societal divisions between people, which has created premises for a crisis of representation and therefore the straining of societal relations on certain segments. Methodologically, the analysis focuses on some aspects from the civil society dimension that fuel identity cleavages in the Republic of Moldova at the current stage, namely: the ethno-national dimension, the linguistic dimension, religion and geopolitical affiliation. The role of civil society in overcoming crises and conflicts that may arise on these sensitive topics is very important. The purpose of the research is to identify and analyze the observable indicators and dimensions of civil society involvement in the direction of developing and maintaining identity cleavages, respectively the civil society engagement and perceptions of identity fragmentation. Also, there is a high interest over the practices accumulated by civil society organizations in overcoming identity confrontations by establishing a civilized intercultural dialogue and promoting a participatory political culture. The main hypothesis is that an important part of civil society in the Republic of Moldova acts and is used (in the absence of independence) with the aim of maintaining and developing the existing identity cleavages. Civil society is often itself divided by identity and geopolitics and from this perspective keeps public discourse strained in society and politically partisan. The second hypothesis is built starting from the perception that in the space of this country there are realities that converge towards the daily expression of community-identity borders, a reality in which civil society has a limited role. These boundaries can be identified both in terms of ethno-national and linguistic identity. The main levels and directions of analysis that we propose are the following: a. analysis of perceptions and identity cleavages/identity as a border in the historical and geopolitical context - throughout this extensive analysis, we propose a general debate on identity issues, often of great sensitivity in the space of the Republic of Moldova; b. conceptualization and analysis of civil society involvement in the societal security management process: analysis of perceptions and engagement.

Responses of Gulf States to the Palestine-Israel Conflict in the Post 7th October 2023

The events of 7th October 2023 marked a turning point in Middle Eastern geopolitics, prompting Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to reassess their foreign policy approaches to the escalating Israel-Palestine conflict. This study explores shifts in GCC foreign policies post-escalation through the lens of Realist theory, focusing on national interests, security concerns, and state survival amid regional instability. Employing qualitative methods, including historical analysis and data triangulation, the research analyses policy statements, reports, and scholarly sources to uncover the motivations behind individual state actions. The findings reveal significant disparities in GCC responses. Saudi Arabia suspended normalisation talks with Israel to align with pro-Palestinian sentiment, while Qatar intensified mediation efforts and expanded humanitarian support. The UAE and Bahrain, balancing diplomatic ties with Israel and public concerns, adopted more cautious stances. Oman maintained neutrality, while Kuwait upheld a strongly pro-Palestinian position. The lack of unified GCC action highlights the bloc's fragmented nature, driven by diverging national priorities and geopolitical alliances. This study sheds light on the complexities of GCC diplomacy and its limitations in formulating a cohesive response to the conflict. By examining these dynamics, the research provides insights into regional geopolitics and proposes strategies to foster unity within the GCC, enhancing its role in addressing the Palestine-Israel conflict and broader regional challenges.

Going upstream: a pluri-ontological analysis and proposal for Brazilian participatory water governance

ABSTRACT Despite the growing emphasis on ontological pluralism in environmental policy debates, innovation within national state environmental governance and management remains limited. This article outlines a conceptual framework for ontological inclusion and exclusion to examine constraints and opportunities in Brazilian participatory water governance. This involves an ontological policy cycle of the Suaçuí state river basin, a participatory process for water-body classification, and a water-body-classification instrument. River ontologies of the Suaçuí river basin and participatory process were found to be excluded from the water-body classification instrument through various practices and modes of exclusion. Relational ontologies, both indigenous and non-indigenous, were excluded. Building on the analysis of how ontological exclusion occurred, speculative design was engaged to critically imagine a pluralist ontological proposal. A database with diverse water inputs and outputs for more sustainable and inclusive planning is envisaged. This proposition grounds reflections on challenges for ontological inclusion in the context of political, economic, and social inequalities. Ontological inclusion and exclusion complement classic concepts of social and epistemic inclusion with distinct normative demands and propositions for established participatory environmental governance.

BROTHERS FOREVER:

This ethnographic documentation of a settlement in Arctic Russia demonstrates the role of brotherhood in local institutions, individual decision-making and family- and community-based obligations. It shows how crucial these are for understanding the complex dynamics of power, obligation and identity to distinguish the diverse use of fraternal metaphors in the community in contrast to the national level or state ideology. I start with the premise that the most prevalent and emotionally charged concepts of brotherhood are, in fact, local and are rooted in two social institutions – the institute of “a hunting crew” and the local kinship system(s). Although these two evolved and transformed under the Soviet and post-Soviet state regimes, the principles of social organisation, positioning and obligations, essential for ties between men, persisted. As the kinship relations are transformative, they do not create an immutable basis for kin-based resources. Labour, such as marine hunting, makes such a basis. In individual decision-making, only non-optative relations with parents and siblings matter. In this study, my focus is the influence of male siblings and cousins on a man’s actions. In the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, some families approve of the monetised service in the army as a substitute for family care and subsistence, and men join their siblings and cousins in the army. The study thus shows how the notion of brotherhood impacts individual decision-making and why it is not difficult, metaphorically speaking, to change sealskin- for heavy-duty leather army boots.

Multiple citizenship: international experience and implementation in Ukraine (economic, political and security aspects)

The article is dedicated to the study of issues related to multiple citizenship in the context of international law and security. In the current conditions of increasing globalization, the regulation of multiple citizenship is becoming ever more relevant, particularly in terms of national security and state sovereignty. The article examines key challenges associated with the involvement of individuals with multiple citizenship in armed forces during military conflicts, potential conflicts of interest that may arise in such cases, and the risks of other states interfering in internal affairs under the pretext of protecting the rights of their citizens. Special attention is given to the analysis of legal practices for the protection of citizens in cases of multiple citizenship, specifically through the lens of the “effective citizenship” concept formulated by the International Court of Justice in the „Notteboom“ case. The article also explores the economic aspects of multiple citizenship, including issues of double taxation and possible ways to resolve these issues through international agreements. Based on an analysis of national and international legal systems, the authors conclude that there is a need to improve legal regulation of citizenship to avoid legal conflicts and ensure a stable political situation in the context of globalization. Particular attention is given to aspects of state sovereignty, which are increasingly under threat due to the growing number of individuals with multiple citizenships. The article offers recommendations to enhance international legal regulation to protect state sovereignty and the rights of individuals with multiple citizenship in the face of modern global challenges. In the context of martial law, the issue of maintaining ties with the Ukrainian diaspora around the world and preserving social capital is examined. Emphasis is placed on multiple citizenship, which is often seen as a result of conflicts between the laws of different countries. One of the risks to national security, both for the state of residence and the state of origin, is the issue of preserving state secrets and ensuring the inviolability of borders for individuals with multiple citizenships. To maintain close contact with Ukrainian refugees, the host countries and Ukraine must cooperate to strengthen financial ties, promote the reduction of remittance costs, and prevent double taxation. The need for effective cooperation between Ukraine and other states to create a legal framework for legal migration and cross-border mobility of Ukrainians after the war is substantiated. It has been proven that for the sake of security, control over migration processes, and post-war reconstruction after the Russia-Ukraine war, the legalization of multiple citizenship in Ukraine is the optimal step.

The right to access to environmental information in Ukraine under the conditions of the legal regime of martial law

The article is devoted to the study of legal regulation of the right to access to environmental information under the legal regime of martial law based on the analysis of international and national legal acts. The authors emphasise the particular negative impact of military operations on the condition of the environment. The authors point out the need to record these negative consequences and properly inform the public about them. The authors state the problem of the simultaneous need to protect national security and the right of citizens to environmental information. It is noted that national legislation not only enshrines the right of citizens to have access to environmental information, but also directly establishes the corresponding obligation of authorised entities to provide environmental information. The article analyses the Aarhus Convention and the possibility of denying access to environmental information for the purposes of national defence or state security. Attention is paid to international experience in ensuring access to information on the condition of the environment during armed conflicts. The authors conclude that the right to access to environmental information is an integral part of the right to a safe environment and is a basic right of every person guaranteed by both national and international law. However, under the legal regime of martial law, strategic information, which may include environmental data, can be used by the enemy. This requires a cautious approach to what information can be made available to the public and how to ensure security without limiting the right to environmental transparency. Although the current Decree of the President of Ukraine ‘On the Implementation of Martial Law in Ukraine’ does not provide for any specific restrictions on the right to environmental information during a special period, the state faces the need to balance the necessity to ensure national security and environmental human rights, preserve the environment and take effective actions to reduce the negative environmental impact of the war.

Guarantees of security for Ukraine: unlearned lessons of the Budapest Memorandum

In the context of the war unleashed by the russian federation in Ukraine, the issues of national security and state security have acquired a remarkable scale of acuteness, actualized the expediency of both rethinking the current security documents and complex approaches to the issues of regulatory and legal security provision, became an impetus for the initiation of new processes related to the search for some new, more effective and efficient security guarantees for Ukraine. The proposed article raises an urgent problem in modern science and practice, in particular, the theory of law and the law of national security, international law, international relations - new regulatory security guarantees. Using the example of the Budapest Memorandum, a valid document on security guarantees, singned in 1994 in connection with Ukraine’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, its legal nature is analyzed, attention is focused on the fallacy of attributing it to such a source of law as normative and legal contract, its features are singled out precisely as an act of «soft law», its place among other sources of law in the national legal system of Ukraine as a political document is specified, is classified as an auxiliary source of law, which has properties under certain conditions to penetrate into the main sources of law, contributing to the main law sources in the security issues legal regulation. The author states the problem of the necessity to substantiate the effectiveness of such documents in national security issues regulation, in particular their ability to counter real threats in the context of the right to security. Analyzing complex approaches to the understanding of security guarantees, the author tries to understand the needs, possibilities and expediency of the search for optimal security guarantees, as well as potential threats that may arise due to a misunderstanding of the role and place of acts of «soft law» among other sources of law. In this regard, aspects of both legal and non-legal issues are highlighted, and legal issues are first of all detailed and analyzed. Options for solving legal problems related to security guarantees are offered, as well as prospects for their development.

Government document citations in top nursing journals: A bibliometric analysis.

Citation analysis studies the use of citations found in various types of publications, including the use of government information, and can provide insight into research utilisation in nursing literature. Using citation analysis, this study examines the use, prevalence and jurisdiction of government information use among seven nursing research journals based on ranking criteria. Government information citations were identified across three types of articles: editorials, reviews and research articles. Nearly two-thirds of the articles in this study cite some form of government information, and the average percentage of government citations is 5.38 of all citations. Government information was identified from national governments, inter-governmental organizations and state and regional governments. Understanding the use, prevalence and jurisdiction of government information informs health information professionals allowing them to engage with nursing students and researchers about this important type of information and the types of articles that use government information. Nursing researchers frequently cite government information in their work. This has implications for librarians, nursing researchers and health professionals. Understanding the intersection of government information and nursing research should inform future practice in evidence-based nursing research and nursing education.

The evolution of the idea of state independence and sobrality in the Ukrainian political and legal thought of the interwar period in Galicia and its influence on the unity of the Ukrainian liberation movement

The political situation that developed in connection with the change in the status of Western Ukraine after March 18, 1921, when an agreement was concluded in Riga between Soviet Russia and Ukraine, on the one hand, and Poland, on the other, that is, after the Ukrainians of Galicia lost their statehood and independence, is considered. At this stage, a regrouping of national-state forces in Ukrainian politics took place, which initiated a new stage in the development of Ukrainian political and legal thought in the region. It is shown that the idea of statehood and unity, which developed on the basis of the formed concept of a national state, taking into account both civilizational and national and international factors, was reflected in the program documents of Ukrainian parties that stood on state positions, as well as in the journalism of political leaders. All of them defended the Ukrainian national idea, but each of the political forces had its own vision of the solution of the national perspective, which affected the development of the party structure of Galician society. What was common to the legal Ukrainian parties (UNDO, USRP, USDP, FNE) was that they did not recognize the legitimacy of Polish rule in Western Ukrainian lands and used legal forms of struggle for the restoration of national statehood. The difference was that they had different state-building concepts, ways and methods of their implementation, foreign policy orientations, attitudes towards Poland, Soviet Ukraine, foreign representation headed by E. Petrushevych, etc. Illegal political organizations (UVO-OUN) on the path to the restoration of statehood recognized only revolutionary methods of struggle and occupied diametrically opposed positions in the Ukrainian liberation movement. It was found that depending on internal and external circumstances, the Ukrainian parties of Galicia changed their tactics, which influenced the evolution of Ukrainian political and legal thought of a particular ideological trend. This is evidenced by party decrees, resolutions and journalistic materials published on the pages of contemporary printed media.

The politics of memory in the EU: reflecting the colonial past

Today, the policy of historical memory is no longer the exclusive prerogative of national states and is being actively developed both at the transnational level and by civil society institutions, regional and local communities. In the European Union, the common memory policy is an integral part of the integration process and provides its legitimization. At the same time, it is important that in an effort to strengthen the European identity historical facts are not distorted and the common past of the EU member states is given an honest assessment. The article examines the problems of reflecting Europe’s colonial past in the EU and the strategies used to deal with it. The EU’s experience of working through this complex period of European history and accepting its negative assessment is undoubtedly useful for other communities.

SECURING THE RESILIENCE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN UKRAINE AMIDST CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

The resilience of critical infrastructure is a crucial component of national security and state development. The dependence of modern societies on the effective functioning of such objects as energy systems, transportation, communications, water supply, and other vital infrastructure necessitates ensuring their resilience to various threats. The levels of criticality have been identified, and a distribution of infrastructure objects based on their criticality criteria has been proposed. The article defines the main factors that influence the resilience of critical infrastructure, including vulnerability, risks, recovery mechanisms, adaptability, security, social and economic aspects, as well as the role of intersectoral coordination. The importance of flexibility and adaptability in crisis situations is highlighted for the rapid restoration of infrastructure functioning after catastrophic events, whether natural, technological, or terrorist attacks. One of the key areas identified is the study of critical infrastructure resilience assessment, based on a multi-factor approach that includes the analysis of both technical and social aspects. Among the most important factors influencing infrastructure resilience are the development of cybersecurity technologies, the adequacy of legal norms, and the capacity for infrastructure to adapt to new threats. Taking these factors into account not only allows for assessing the current level of infrastructure resilience but also helps identify the most vulnerable areas that require enhanced protection and timely intervention. The identification of recovery and adaptation mechanisms is a critical aspect for ensuring the continuous functioning of critical systems during emergencies. The article also presents possible directions for resilience assessment that contribute to more accurate forecasting of potential risks and the development of effective strategies to ensure the stability of critical infrastructure objects. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of a differentiated approach to developing resilience measures based on the criticality criteria of the respective infrastructure objects.

The National Security State and the Tech City: Social Structures of Militarisation in Seattle's Long Cold War

AbstractIntegration between the American state and technology capital has deep roots in the military‐industrial complex that has structured the US geopolitical economy since World War II. This article makes the case for understanding the urban‐regional dimensions of technology capital in terms of a transformation of, rather than as a departure from, Cold War geopolitics. It introduces the concept of a social structure of militarisation to analyse the transition from military‐Keynesianism to tech‐oriented militarism, developing this concept through a case study of high‐tech firms in the Seattle region. Our analysis shows how the class dynamics that underpinned the growth of Seattle's “high‐tech” aerospace sector in the postwar period conditioned the subsequent growth of the information and biotechnology sectors. Like other tech cities, Seattle's economy remains a privileged site of technical and managerial labour within the extended US national security state.

Public opinion as a driver of the national security state

Public opinion as a driver of the national security state

On the information sovereignty

Indicators of ensuring sovereignty cannot be aggregated and estimates should be given for a separate area or type of activity under consideration. Therefore, sovereignty can be considered systematically and structurally, depending on the industry or field of activity, which will allow us to focus on improving the effectiveness of the legal regulation mechanism. Increasing threats in the information sphere have actualized the task of ensuring sovereignty. The technical, technological and social components of the information sphere are the factors of its provision. The term “technological sovereignty” is often used, which affects the information sphere, but is not limited to it. On the other hand, not all the subject area of technological sovereignty solves the issues of the information sphere. “Digital” or network sovereignty shifts the emphasis in favor of the digital space created and mastered on the basis of digital technologies in the information and telecommunications network of the Internet. However, the assessment of sovereignty in the information sphere from the perspective of digital technologies only significantly narrows the scope of both scientific research and the possibilities of legal regulation, since in addition to digital, analog and quantum types of information technologies are distinguished, acting as a guarantee of national security and ensuring state sovereignty. It is the term “information sovereignty” that covers all the priority areas of the national state policy in the information sphere. Information sovereignty is the ability of a state to independently form an information policy and the ability to ensure security in the information sphere regardless of external influence.

National eco-social policies in the framework of EU just transition: The cases of Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain

This article examines two questions. First, how far have the green and social policy objectives of the European Green Deal and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) been translated into ‘eco-social policies’ (i.e. demonstrate a ‘socio-ecological’ dimension) in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) of four of the biggest beneficiary countries, namely, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain? And, second, how is the role of national welfare states articulated in these eco-social policies to support this just green transition? Our analysis shows first, that, although the analysed NRRPs have a socio-ecological dimension, this is very limited in terms of the share of ‘eco-social’ measures in the total number of policy measures in the NRRPs. Moreover, we find that the role of national welfare states in the identified eco-social policies of the NRRPs in the four country-cases we examine is significantly tilted in favour of what we call ‘benchmarking’ and ‘enabling’ functions, in contrast to what we call ‘buffering’ and ‘consensus-building’ functions. In that sense, the socio-ecological dimension of these national plans seems ‘unbalanced’ in terms of the functions that national welfare states play in it. The article concludes with some reflections on the implications of these findings for the role of EU policy legacies and frameworks and of national welfare states in shaping the emergence of eco-social policies as means to a just green transition and on some methodological challenges for the study of eco-social policies in the context of the European Green Deal and its implementation.

Constitutionalisation of the Right to Abortion

Enshrining the right to abortion in the constitution represented an ideal in many states that faced this issue or restrictions that led to the loss of human life. The phenomenon gained momentum in the European space after the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health (Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 2022). I mentioned the decision, by which the Court annulled the right to abortion, offering the possibility to waive this right to the national authorities. The rise of extremist religious groups in the European space made the right to abortion a controversial subject, which is why the phenomenon was left to the discretion of the national state from a decision-making perspective. However, in the EU, the European Parliament alerted in time the threats posed to the rights to abortion requesting that this right be introduced in the EU Convention of Rights (European Parliament Resolution, 2022; European Parliament Resolution, 2024). Rounding off the decision to implement the right to abortion in the constitution generated at the national level a real debate for and against, which in the European space ended with some changes such as states that have adopted this right: France (French legislative proposal no. 293, 2023), Belgium (Parl. doc. 55 2832/001 (2021-2022), Norway, and Sweden (Press release Department of Justice, 2023). Against this reaction, legal experts questioned the necessity, adequacy and added value of the constitutionalisation (Dobner M. Loughlin, 2010) of a right to abortion in European-national contexts.

Coordinating assemblages: accounting for a novel disaster

PurposeThis study aims to examine how hospitals and regional and local health authorities in the Italian region of Marche accounted for and reported the use of emergency funds from the EU, the Ministry of Economic and Finance and administrative bodies called actuator subjects. Unlike a sudden impact disaster, such as an earthquake, the pandemic was slow moving and novel. This meant that the guidelines for medical, legislative, financial and administrative action were not as developed as those for sudden impact emergencies with which the Italian state was, unfortunately, experienced.Design/methodology/approachThe paper investigates the Italian public healthcare setting since the declaration of the State of Emergency until its end—that is, from January 2020 to July 2021. We conducted 31 semi-structured interviews with nine key-actors working for national, regional and local administrative bodies. A range of related official documents were analyzed.FindingsWe show a non-linear and emergent account of standardization and coordination. We show how different state and transnational actors developed their own procedures to standardize COVID-related cost classifications and reports. These attempts also involved coordinating assemblages, at the center of which are templates imposed on hospitals and regional authorities by national state entities for cost-reporting practices and aggregation. Importantly, templates’ visual features enabled coordination across the different standardization initiatives that populated the emergency response effort.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides academics and policy makers with insights into the role played by accounting tools, templates, reports and guidelines to coordinate different cost standardization initiatives.Originality/valueAccounting guidelines that standardize costs are known to be deployed hierarchically by states and transnational organizations for coordination purposes. We highlight, however, the emergence of not only hierarchical forms of coordination but also their interrelation with decentralized forms of coordination. These two types of coordinating assemblages, each standardizes cost through the accounting templates that they use. We demonstrate the emergent nature of coordination even within hierarchical entities like the state. Reporting templates are pivotal for understanding this coordination process. However, when a centralized coordinating body is absent, it is the visual features of accounting, rather than its imposition, that enable coordination.