Struggle For Resources Research Articles

Assessment of the Ability of Rural Communities to Prepare High-Quality Development Projects

The development of communities and territories requires significant investment. At their expense, communities can restore existing or build new infrastructure, develop businesses, and launch joint development projects. All this is done to improve the living conditions and well-being of the population in communities. As a rule, there are not enough own funds to solve all tasks: community resources are limited and are largely used to meet priority needs. Rural and village communities, almost always financed on a residual basis, are practically unable to provide not only extended, but even simple reproduction of their territories. Therefore, larger projects are implemented using financial or material and technical resources provided from the state budget and/or through international technical assistance projects. This resource is mainly received on a non-refundable basis. The main requirement is for communities to get a sustainable long-term effect from investment. It is also a confirmation of the ability of territorial entities to independently maintain restored or created infrastructure or projects that have been put into operation. In order for these funds to be received by the most worthy and prepared entities, they are distributed through competitive selection mechanisms. Any communities submit project applications for the competition. The most important thing is that the applications meet the requirements of the competition and contain all the information properly submitted. The EU sectoral support competition is one of the largest, both in terms of coverage of Ukrainian communities, and in terms of development areas that can be funded. The results of the competition allow assessing which development problems seem most urgent in rural areas, and whether rural communities have an understanding of the requirements of project approaches. Conclusions and generalisations can serve as a marker for assessing the competitiveness of rural and village communities in the struggle for project resources. In addition – in terms of forming further policies for the development of rural areas and their institutional support. The purpose of the study – assess the ability of territorial communities (with an emphasis on rural and village communities) to prepare high-quality development projects in accordance with European approaches, and provide proposals for improving this ability. To assess the ability of territorial communities to prepare high-quality development projects, statistical and comparative analysis, systematisation and generalisation of information were carried out. The following methods were applied: synthesis and formalisation, graphical and tabular techniques. A study of the activity of communities (with an emphasis on rural and village ones) in terms of preparing development projects was carried out. Their readiness to participate in competitions is analysed. Based on the submitted project applications, a summary of the key priorities for the development of rural and village communities is made. A number of generalisations have been formed regarding the level of project capacity of territorial communities (primarily rural and village communities). Proposals have been developed to improve the ability of communities to attract resources through competitions of this level and their further effective use. Separately, proposals for the introduction of a “project counselling” system within agricultural advisory services and/or regional development agencies (RDA) are provided. The results of the assessment of the ability of rural and village communities to prepare high-quality development projects, the proposed recommendations for their improvement, can be used by central and local authorities, territorial communities, organisations, international technical assistance projects, whose activities are aimed at the development of communities and territories in the implementation of rural development policies both at the national and local levels.

Modern environmental policy of the European Union: the struggle for resources and conflict of interests in various market segments

The object of research in this paper is the modern environmental policy of the European Union, while the subject of research is the relationship and mutual influence of the EU environmental policy in the context of the ongoing conflict of interests on this issue in various market segments. Also in this article, the authors tried to trace the dependencies of the mechanism of implementation of the environmental policy of the European Union, establishing what impact it has on the society of European countries and their economies, and what reverse impact these areas have on environmental policy. The "European Green Course" has become the central subject of research, since the effectiveness and mechanisms of its implementation at the pan-European and national levels reveal the essence of the modern environmental policy of the European Union. The authors identify the criteria for the formation of the EU environmental policy, as well as analyze the basic principles of the implementation of pan-European legislation on environmental policy. It is concluded that the environmental policy of the European Union has one interesting feature: it is one and different at the same time. The norms and rules of each specific country differ in their strength and target areas, while the result of the application of these norms, the targets, remain equal for all countries of the Union. The compactness factor of the European Union plays a significant role in shaping the principles of implementing and building a coherent environmental policy: any environmental incident has consequences for almost all EU member states, geographically the countries are located compactly, and the current relationship between the industrial concerns of EU countries makes them extremely sensitive to supply chain disruptions.

Current Environmental Policy of the European Union: The struggle for resources and conflict of interests in various market segments (Part 2)

This article examines the issue of the strategic development of the environmental policy of the European Union in modern conditions. The assessment of the "European Green Course" is given, political, economic and environmental risks are assessed in the context of the implementation of the EU environmental policy. The authors also identify the criteria for the formation of the EU environmental policy, as well as analyze the basic principles of the implementation of pan-European legislation on environmental policy. It is concluded that the environmental policy of the European Union depends on the so-called "compactness factor", which plays a key role in shaping the principles of implementation and building a coherent environmental policy. In general, in this part of the study, the authors reveal the technologies of the political and economic impact of the EU environmental policy on the life of the member states. In many ways, this influence can be traced in the activities of youth environmental movements, which form the environmental agenda in the union and the request for changes. At the same time, the authors note the high conflictogenic potential of these movements. In general, the modern environmental policy of the EU is a catalyst for the actualization of various economic and political problems, the mechanisms of formation of which are considered by the authors. The article presents forecasts regarding the implementation of the EU environmental policy in the next few years and likely trends.

The role of the Arctic Council in the management of the Arctic and Russia's activities in it

The XXI century is the era of the emergence of geopolitical disputes and disagreements between states. Such contradictions are caused by scientific and technological progress and an increasing number of international actors in the struggle for natural resources. Today, one of such spaces of geopolitical contradictions is the Arctic. It is here that the political, legal, economic, military-strategic, environmental and social interests of many powers are concentrated. The authors turn the attention to the international legal regime of the Arctic, the positions of the main participants in Arctic policy and the leading institution in the region - the Arctic Council (AU). The authors analyze the level of influence of the Russian Federation on political processes in the region. The article examines the strategies and concepts of the leading actors in the region: Russia, the USA, Canada, the Scandinavia countries, as well as declarations and conventions of international organizations. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the AU documents adopted both at the ministerial level and at the level of working groups and the Committee of Senior Officials in the period from 1996 to 2019. The authors of the article come to the conclusion that, to date, the AU is the main legal mechanism in the Arctic, which over the history of its existence has shown itself to be a necessary attribute in regulating the activities of states in the region. Despite the fact that the AU has the legal foundations of an intergovernmental international organization, it still retains the status of a high-level forum with limited institutional capacity, remaining a relatively poorly structured organization of the founding States. In addition, the authors come to the conclusion about the high level of Russia's involvement in the political processes of the region. In conclusion, a number of assumptions are made regarding the future political development of the Arctic and the role of the Russian Federation in this process.

Treaties & Territory: Resource Struggles and the Legal Foundations of the U.S./American Indian Relationship

Treaties & Territory: Resource Struggles and the Legal Foundations of the U.S./American Indian Relationship

Научно-технический прогресс и трансформация общества: ноономика и ноообщество. Часть 2

The theory of Noonomy, based on the study of modern trends in technological and socio-economic development, allows us to identify the causes of the contradictions that modern civilization faces – economic, social, environmental, moral contradictions. However, noonomy not only reveals the background of these contradictions, but also shows the maturing objective possibilities of getting out of these contradictions, overcoming civilizational dead ends, choosing a path at civilizational forks. The opportunities created by modern technology create the prospect of a transition from economics to noonomy, which means abandoning economic rationality, leading to an unrestrained pursuit of increasing production and consumption. The place of economic rationality is occupied by rationality based on the criteria of knowledge and culture. However, such a transition from economics to noonomy should be based on a change in the totality of social relations, and noonomy can be strengthened only within the framework of an integral system of the noosociety. The very nature of public relations and public relations of people, the nature of human socialization and socialization of society will orient social development to these new criteria. The ideological orientation of such a reformatting of society can be the ideology of solidarity, which grows out of the emerging opportunities to overcome the discord of socioeconomic interests of people based on the struggle for material resources.

ВИКОРИСТАННЯ АЛЬТЕРНАТИВНИХ ДЖЕРЕЛ ЕНЕРГІЇ В ЄС: МОЖЛИВОСТІ ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ

Global economic crises, oil and gas wars, and the constant struggle for natural resources are forcing humanity to look at the world through the prism of mercantile interests, causing damage to nature. As a result, this leads to climate change, global warming and massive environmental pollution.Analyzing these trends, part of society is increasingly focusing on alternative energy sources. The purpose of the article is to analyze current trends in the use of alternative energy sources in EU countries and to determine the possibilities of their application in Ukraine. The research methods used in the work are the following: analysis, abstract and logical, generalization, comparison, economic and statistical, and graphical. It has been established that the most common alternative energy sources include solar, wind, water, biofuels, and others. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. At present, themechanism for encouraging the use of alternative energy sources in the European Union is the "green" tariff, premium "green" tariff, tenders, auctions, grants, soft loans, and tax and customs benefits. The analysis of renewable energy production trends in the EU showed that hydropower prevailed until 2012.In Ukraine, the share of primary energy from renewable sources is much lower than in the EU. The main areas of cooperation between the EU and Ukraine in the field of alternative energy have been identified.Wind and solar energy and biomass can become a full-fledged object of export from Ukraine to the European Union. It is established that in order to stimulate the production of clean energy in Ukraine, it is advisable to introduce loans with low-interest rates and grace periods, quota obligations andencourage the creation of energy cooperatives. The tax levers’ influence on carbon dioxide emissions reduction and the implementation of renewable energy sources usage have been determined.

Scientific and technological progress and transformation of society: noonomy and noosociety. Part 1

the theory of Noonomy, based on the study of modern trends in technological and socio-economic development, allows us to identify the causes of the contradictions that modern civilization faces – economic, social, environmental, moral contradictions. However, noonomy not only reveals the background of these contradictions, but also shows the maturing objective possibilities of getting out of these contradictions, overcoming civilizational dead ends, choosing a path at civilizational forks. The opportunities created by modern technology create the prospect of a transition from economics to noonomy, which means abandoning economic rationality, leading to an unrestrained pursuit of increasing production and consumption. The place of economic rationality is occupied by rationality based on the criteria of knowledge and culture. However, such a transition from economics to noonomy should be based on a change in the totality of social relations, and noonomy can be strengthened only within the framework of an integral system of the noosociety. The very nature of public relations and public relations of people, the nature of human socialization and socialization of society will orient social development to these new criteria. The ideological orientation of such a reformatting of society can be the ideology of solidarity, which grows out of the emerging opportunities to overcome the discord of socio-economic interests of people based on the struggle for material resources.

Научно-технический прогресс и трансформация общества: ноономика и ноообщество. Часть 3

The theory of Noonomy, based on the study of modern trends in technological and socio-economic development, allows us to identify the causes of the contradictions that modern civilization faces – economic, social, environmental, moral contradictions. However, noonomy not only reveals the background of these contradictions, but also shows the maturing objective possibilities of getting out of these contradictions, overcoming civilizational dead ends, choosing a path at civilizational forks. The opportunities created by modern technology create the prospect of a transition from economics to noonomy, which means abandoning economic rationality, leading to an unrestrained pursuit of increasing production and consumption. The place of economic rationality is occupied by rationality based on the criteria of knowledge and culture. However, such a transition from economics to noonomy should be based on a change in the totality of social relations, and noonomy can be strengthened only within the framework of an integral system of the noosociety. The very nature of public relations and public relations of people, the nature of human socialization and socialization of society will orient social development to these new criteria. The ideological orientation of such a reformatting of society can be the ideology of solidarity, which grows out of the emerging opportunities to overcome the discord of socioeconomic interests of people based on the struggle for material resources.

Научно-технический прогресс и трансформация общества: ноономика и ноообщество. Часть 2

the theory of Noonomy, based on the study of modern trends in technological and socio-economic development, allows us to identify the causes of the contradictions that modern civilization faces – economic, social, environmental, moral contradictions. However, noonomy not only reveals the background of these contradictions, but also shows the maturing objective possibilities of getting out of these contradictions, overcoming civilizational dead ends, choosing a path at civilizational forks. The opportunities created by modern technology create the prospect of a transition from economics to noonomy, which means abandoning economic rationality, leading to an unrestrained pursuit of increasing production and consumption. The place of economic rationality is occupied by rationality based on the criteria of knowledge and culture. However, such a transition from economics to noonomy should be based on a change in the totality of social relations, and noonomy can be strengthened only within the framework of an integral system of the noosociety. The very nature of public relations and public relations of people, the nature of human socialization and socialization of society will orient social development to these new criteria. The ideological orientation of such a reformatting of society can be the ideology of solidarity, which grows out of the emerging opportunities to overcome the discord of socioeconomic interests of people based on the struggle for material resources.

РОЛЬ УНІВЕРСИТЕТІВ У РОЗПОДІЛІ ІНТЕЛЕКТУАЛЬНОГО РЕСУРСУ ГЛОБАЛЬНОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ

An increase in the world number of applicants for international academic mobility as well as updating of the list and dynamics of indicators of the structure of the world countries that receive the largest flows of foreign applicants has been revealed. The outflow of intellectual resources of the universities of the American continents to the institutions of the regions of Asia and Oceania has been showed in temporal dynamics as well as increasing innovation activity and international influence of institutions in these regions. An increase in the number of countries whose universities are competitive in an intellect-intensive global economy and intensification of competition for intellectual resources between universities within regions and individual countries has been identified. The transformation of university development strategies has been demonstrated in order to improve the competitive position in the global struggle for intellectual resources (in particular, based on the format of online education, increasing the supply of financial support and diversifying services provided to students). Emphasis has been placed on increasing and clearly formulating the requirements of business entities of the intellect-intensive global economy to university graduates as potential employees of companies. It has been argued that modern universities are becoming not only a source of knowledge, but also a motive for international intellectual migration as well as the center for the accumulation and integration of intellectual resources of the global economy.

Научно-технический прогресс и трансформация общества: ноономика и ноообщество. Часть 1

The theory of Noonomy, based on the study of modern trends in technological and socio-economic development, allows us to identify the causes of the contradictions that modern civilization faces – economic, social, environmental, moral contradictions. However, noonomy not only reveals the background of these contradictions, but also shows the maturing objective possibilities of getting out of these contradictions, overcoming civilizational dead ends, choosing a path at civilizational forks. The opportunities created by modern technology create the prospect of a transition from economics to noonomy, which means abandoning economic rationality, leading to an unrestrained pursuit of increasing production and consumption. The place of economic rationality is occupied by rationality based on the criteria of knowledge and culture. However, such a transition from economics to noonomy should be based on a change in the totality of social relations, and noonomy can be strengthened only within the framework of an integral system of the noosociety. The very nature of public relations and public relations of people, the nature of human socialization and socialization of society will orient social development to these new criteria. The ideological orientation of such a reformatting of society can be the ideology of solidarity, which grows out of the emerging opportunities to overcome the discord of socio-economic interests of people based on the struggle for material resources.

Segmented terrorism in the Sahara-Sahel zone. The second stage: 2016-2021

Several distinctive points characterize the second stage under analyses: the expansion of new armed alliances - Jamā’at Nuṣrat al Islām wal Muslimīn (JNIM) and Islamic State of the Greater Sahara (ISGS); the rise of resistance movement; the growth of inter- and intra-communal tensions. Conflicts embraced the regions of Central Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, populated predominantly by ethnic Fulani. Armed jihadi groups spread alarmingly in the northern border zones of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Western Nigeria. Trying to stop destabilization, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso harshly and unduly pressed local population (predominantly the cattle-breeder Fulani) instead of mounting preventive measures. Indiscriminating state military campaigns further provoked radicalisation of ethno-militias aggravating struggle for meager resources, retaliatory actions and ethnic cleansing. The net result of the government’s policies has been inflation of its legitimacy in the Fulani populated regions of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. It became the best situation for JNIM and ISGS to recruit. In contrast with the previous stage, JNIM and ISGS are deeply rooted in local clan-cast structures and enjoy more support from wider population. For some years theу have effectively managed access to pastures and water resources, resolve communal disputes and protect willing pastoralists, hunters, traders and peasants from bandits and corrupt state officials. Drivers and deep causes of the situation cannot be explained from the perspective of ‘common enemy’ in the ‘war on terror’ - implicit impetus of many anti-terror studies and related international laws, both in dire need of revaluation.

Научно-технический прогресс и трансформация общества: ноономика и ноообщество. Часть 1

The theory of Noonomy, based on the study of modern trends in technological and socio-economic development, allows us to identify the causes of the contradictions that modern civilization faces – economic, social, environmental, moral contradictions. However, noonomy not only reveals the background of these contradictions, but also shows the maturing objective possibilities of getting out of these contradictions, overcoming civilizational dead ends, choosing a path at civilizational forks. The opportunities created by modern technology create the prospect of a transition from economics to noonomy, which means abandoning economic rationality, leading to an unrestrained pursuit of increasing production and consumption. The place of economic rationality is occupied by rationality based on the criteria of knowledge and culture. However, such a transition from economics to noonomy should be based on a change in the totality of social relations, and noonomy can be strengthened only within the framework of an integral system of the noosociety. The very nature of public relations and public relations of people, the nature of human socialization and socialization of society will orient social development to these new criteria. The ideological orientation of such a reformatting of society can be the ideology of solidarity, which grows out of the emerging opportunities to overcome the discord of socio-economic interests of people based on the struggle for material resources.

Electoral violence and voter apathy: Peace journalism and good governance in perspective

Throughout election seasons, threats, verbal bullying, hate speech, misinformation, physical attack, and imposed “protection” are all utilised to limit, postpone, or otherwise impact the electoral process, according to Fischer (2002). By examining the role of the media in the portrayal of electoral violence, this research highlighted the struggle for power and state resources in electoral contests. The paper looks at peace journalism as a key component of election coverage for defusing tensions and fostering good governance. Two hypotheses were tested, and no link was found between media reporting on electoral violence, media portrayals of electoral violence, and voters’ perception of good governance. The result demonstrates that the Nigerian media is fair in its coverage of electoral issues, including violence before, during, and after elections, in a balanced and responsible manner. It is all geared towards promoting good governance. The study indicates that journalists are primarily responsible for what readers learn about elections and electoral violence, and audience perception will be shaped by how journalists represent political players and their activities

Lifestyle as a social problem

The interaction between humans and the environment, including social one, determines their behavior, particularly those associated with general forms of life. Among social forms of life, lifestyle occupies an important place in terms of possibility to influence social development as a whole. The way of life presupposes the stability and sustainability of human existence. At the same time, the nature of the formation of a way of life leads to the need to solve a number of social problems. They are associated with the nature and content of labor, a person's place in the social structure of society. The needs and interests of people play an important role here. Modern trends in the globalization of public relations, the environmental crisis and the struggle for resources predetermine the nature of social problems associated with lifestyle. In Azerbaijan, along with traditional features, the way of life reflects such realities as the Karabakh war, the impact of the market economy, information and communication technologies, and general trends in the globalization of social life. The issues of forced migration due to the Karabakh conflict, the standard of living, the level of development of education and culture, the need to improve the environment, upgrade the structure of needs, both material and spiritual, are among the social problems that need to be solved for improving the way of life and await their solution. These problems require a detailed sociological analysis. First, it is necessary to clarify the content of the main categories associated with these problems.

Assessment of the investment attractiveness of the regional economic sectors on the example of the Kirov region

The article focuses on the fact that the general struggle for investment resources, both at the state level and at the regional level, forces us to study the essence, content of the investment process, the forms of interaction between its participants in more depth and in detail, assess the investment potential of individual sectors of the economy and look for ways to improve its efficiency. When studying the investment attractiveness of economic sectors, such a methodology was used, which includes three stages: 1) assessment of the socio-economic situation of the region and determination of its rating in Russia; 2) analysis of the dynamics and structure of investments in fixed assets; 3) identification of benefits that provide investment incentives for external investors in the regional system and deter conditions for the development of investment activity. It has been revealed that there is a significant gap between regions in terms of investment activity in the Russian economy, which contradicts the principle of a single economic space of the country. The Kirov region is analysed in relation to other regions of the country in terms of the indicators under consideration. The most attractive sectors of the region’s economy for investors have been identified. The article shows how important it is to assess the investment attractiveness of individual sectors of the economy of the Kirov region in order to offer the most profitable investment projects in the future.

English

Conflicts in Africa are increasingly becoming violent and endemic. Many of these conflicts are related to crises of identities, struggles for resources and power contestations. A few of these conflicts escalate to self-determination, separatist movements, and secession. These conflicts mostly transcend national borders and trigger the alteration and redesigning of national borders, which itself becomes a source of continued violent conflicts across borders. For instance, the attainment of independence by South-Sudan in 2013 has raised hope in achieving peace and stability after one of the prolonged civil wars in Africa. Nevertheless, the new state of South Sudan has turned to a devil’s domain. The internal conflicts in South Sudan have further aggravated the tensions in the region; in addition to the border disputes with Sudan. After the three years of political independence from Sudan, there is still no agreement over the 2,010-km border that divides the two nations. This paper thus examines the nature of border disputes between Sudan and South Sudan and the extent to which the border conflict influences the dynamics of internal conflicts in South Sudan and the implications for peace and stability in the region.   Key words: Independence, border, conflict, violence.

Who Counts as Trans? A Critical Discourse Analysis of Trans Tumblr Posts

Internet and social media sites have long served as a rich form of community-building and knowledge exchange within transgender communities. In particular, Tumblr has become a popular site among trans youth in recent years. Paralleling changes in medical and mainstream societal understandings of what it means to be transgender, trans Tumblr users have engaged in dialogue and debate about the definitions and limits of trans identity. While research has established the potential for positive identity-formation among LGBTQ+ youth on Tumblr, it is also important to consider how online trans communities may re-inscribe hegemonic narratives in addition to disrupting dominant discourses and ideologies. Using a critical discourse analysis of Tumblr posts, this research analyses how trans Tumblr users define “who counts as trans,” including how users define gender dysphoria and its relationship to trans identities. Our findings provide critical insight into how trans communities define the boundaries of their identities in a struggle for visibility, resources, and respect.

The Mine or the Mire? - Mobilizing Place and Identity in Resource Struggles

In mining, the ideas of consultation and participation together with the frames of corporate responsibility and sustainable development have become the lingua franca of mining conflict resolution. This paper takes post-Gramscian approach to explore how different forms of power and dissent are performed in dialogue processes; and draws from political ecology literature to examine how place and place-based identities are mobilized in the conflicts. The findings show how place is actively utilized as a power resource by both the company, and those who resist it, and that place-basedness becomes a frame for contestation. The local values, meanings and knowledge are connected to the persuasion and control through dialogue. While the place contexts can offer strategic leverage for fringe stakeholders to oppose mining - instead of being disempowered by the hegemonic CSR practices - the power struggles and local dynamics can also silence some of the resistance. The empirical context of the paper is a project by mining multinational in Finnish Lapland. The paper contributeS to the theorization on the often veiled power struggles in corporate-community relations, and the limits of conciliatory mechanism; and to the research on identities in organisation studies by theorising on the significance of place as source of identity and how that influences the corporate-community relations.