Abstract The BRICS + collective (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with the + to denote the expansion in membership) claims to represent Global South (GS) interests. Core among these interests is to ameliorate global structural exchange inequalities through reforms to global governance architectures and encouraging collaboration among members. Reforms and collaborative work aim at improving economic conditions in the GS, which is a long-standing local demand. At the same time, GS regions suffer from rivalries among its constitutive members states. Regional rivalries contribute to worsening economic conditions by discouraging investments, limiting the utilization of regional complementarities, and channeling money towards arms build-up. This article argues that given BRICS + emphasis on fostering economic reforms and members’ interdependence, membership in this collective incentivizes rivals to de-escalate so that they can capture benefits in the service of their national interests. BRICS + members observe the behavior of rivals since it is in the interest of the collective to uphold its credibility and fulfil its promises. De-escalation occurs as states prioritize cooperation over conflict, benefiting from economic opportunities and shared platforms for exchanges and dialogue. The article examines the potential of BRICS + to create conditions conducive to rivalry de-escalation in West Asia and the Maghreb (WAM). The organizational structure of BRICS + as a flexible, Global South-oriented coalition makes it attractive to states with existing tensions, encouraging pragmatic steps toward de-escalation. But BRICS + itself accepts membership based on existing members unanimously accepting potential newcomers; these newcomers are primarily evaluated on the premise of their positive contributions to the goals of the collective and are (apparently) shunned if their membership brings divisions and rivalry to within the collective. We select for our analysis three case studies which vary in their demonstration of the effects of BRICS + membership/promise of membership on the rivalry. The cases offer insights into how the BRICS + collective has utilized the membership process to promote de-escalation—instrumentalizing it as a preliminary condition for joining. Accordingly, the Morocco-Algeria rivalry provides the strongest evidence of BRICS + activism, the Egypt-Ethiopia rivalry yields mixed results, and the Saudi Arabia-Iran rivalry presents the least robust evidence of instrumentalization (relative to other cases). This categorization is based on how strongly each case supports our study’s claims. Curiously, we find that the impact of these processes on security dynamics in the regional order varied – the outcome is reversed. This means that BRICS + succeeded in leveraging membership to de-escalate the Saudi Arabia-Iran rivalry and, to a lesser extent, achieved similar results with Egypt and Ethiopia. In contrast, the Morocco-Algeria rivalry demonstrates the limits to which BRICS + was able to instrumentalize membership as a tool for de-escalation and highlights the subsequent lack of contribution to regional security, which the collective could not achieve despite its potential to do so.
Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only), Economic growth, development, planning
The development of ecotourism, especially in the Provinsi Yogyakarta region known for its rich natural and cultural potential, depends on the improvement of public services. The aim of this research is to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the public services provided by destination managers in Provinsi Yogyakarta through visitor sentiment analysis toward ecotourism in the area. Additionally, the purpose of this sentiment analysis is to explore whether visitors have a positive, negative, or neutral impression of these ecotourism attractions and to evaluate tourism management with various strategies for improvement. The research method uses a quantitative approach by collecting secondary data and processing it through sentiment analysis. The research findings show that tourist destinations in Provinsi Yogyakarta receive predominantly positive reviews, with 44 positive reviews compared to 11 negative ones. Beaches, mountains, museums, and temples are the most frequently visited destinations. Therefore, the development strategies should focus more on these four tourist destinations.
Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
A systematic approach to the definition of the term "institutional capacity" within the scope of the science of public management and administration is proposed. In this context, the peculiarities of the correlation of institutions of the political system with legal subsystems and institutions in Ukraine were investigated. The role of state authorities, local self-government bodies and representatives of civil society in shaping the institutional capacity of the state is defined.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that there is still an opinion, at least among the masses, that in pre-revolutionary times literacy was poorly developed among the Kalmyks. It was believed that representatives of the clergy and noble classes ― Noyons and Zaisangs — were literate. The clergy accounted for the largest percentage of literates, which was due to their type of activity. Nevertheless, there was an opinion that even among them the bulk was mired in drunkenness and deception of the ignorant masses of the people. The purpose of the proposed work is, as far as possible, to answer some of the above questions, although the study and coverage of the content of the problem as a whole is not a matter of one article. Materials and methods. To solve these problems, archival material, which is being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, is mainly involved. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to approach the resolution of certain emerging problems, abandoning the recent habit of approaching the analysis of a diverse historical panorama with a single pre-regulating theoretical attitude. Descriptive, historical-comparative, historical-genetic and analytical methods were used in the study. Results. In Kalmyk society, representatives of the Noyono-Zaisang environment were primarily literate. The Noyons were almost all literate, including their wives. The Zaisangs had a fairly high literacy rate; there were also women among the literate, but their number was small. There are no specific data on commoners, but it can be assumed that the number of literate among them was small. In the XVIII century. literacy education in general in the Kalmyk Khanate went in two directions. Russian Russian was taught to the representatives of the Kalmyks, and the Russians — Kalmyk. This training was initiated by the Russian government (translators, interpreters, etc. were needed) and spontaneously, in the process of everyday communication between representatives of neighboring peoples.
History of Asia, Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
Introduction. The article deals with some key stages and patterns of administrative governance sequentially adopted for Kalmyk Steppe of Astrakhan Governorate in the early-to-mid nineteenth century. This very period was witnessing the integration and incorporation of Kalmyk Steppe into Russia’s administrative system, though some ethnos-specific governance elements would still be retained. The related historiography contains no explicit data as to certain governance stages (and patterns) characterized by corresponding qualitative changes. Results. The paper examines the publication titled ‘Ministry of State Property over the Fifty Years, 1837–1887: A Historical Review’ (Pt. 2: Protectorship. Land Affairs) for provisions pertaining to the governance system in Kalmyk Steppe. According to the document, efforts of the Russian Government across Kalmyk Steppe in the early-to-mid nineteenth century were primarily aimed at: 1) interacting with ethnic elites, endowing the latter with certain rights and privileges, involving them into the imperial power hierarchy at regional and local levels; 2) introducing (step by step) imperial legislative and court practices (common-law norms remain in force at lower levels for civil circulation); 3) laying foundations of imperial financial and tax policies (given that local elites would retain their original privileges). Conclusions. Our insights into opinions and viewpoints of contemporary researchers have identified a number of distinct features inherent to the shaping and functioning of the administrative governance system in early-to-mid nineteenth century Kalmyk Steppe. So, the early nineteenth century namestnichestvo was essentially rather that of the late eighteenth century. At the same time, pristavstvo should be viewed only as a milestone towards popechitelstvo. In general, the three can still be considered as individual governance patterns — with differing governance objects. However, the basis was compiled from supervision and wardship, and preservation of some ethnic governance traditions.
History of Asia, Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 consolidated the West which seeks to secure the Putin regime’s strategic defeat in Ukraine. While refraining from a direct support of the Kremlin, China has demonstrated throughout this conflict a “pro-Russian neutrality” declaring a “no limits partnership” with Moscow which might result in a new bipolar confrontation between the West and the non-Western power centre with China and Russia on top of it. Being unable to directly confront the consolidated West, Beijing and Moscow have embarked on the path of a hybrid warfare strategy to modify America’s hegemonic behaviour by shifting global normative narratives, delegitimising the US leadership in the eyes of the broader international community and gaining support among the countries of the Global South.
Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only), Political science (General)
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the development of good governance research worldwide covering the practices by the public and private institutions. Design/methodology/approach – A bibliometric study on 3,375 scientific papers from 1990 to 2018 was conducted, and the data was analyzed to examine the trends and challenges in the worldwide scientific productions for good governance. Findings – Most research comes from scholars in the high-income countries (70%) and has moved from classical socio-economic topics of good public governance to sustainable environmental development. Post-colonial politics and economy remain unending discussion on good governance in Africa and Asia. Exporting the implementation of good governance from wealthier countries attracts critics and arguments from the third countries. Practical implications – 3,375 scientific papers used in this research was collected from Scopus database. While it was not the only existing scientific research database, the collection could not guarantee the sample adequacy of the worldwide scientific knowledge on good governance. There are papers that are not Open Access (OA), written in other languages, published in regional/national journals, nor have significant academic impact. Originality/value – The authors recognize that this study is the first evaluation ever. The result provides the first scientific reference for probing the worldwide practices of good governance for public and private sectors. Under the changing world environment in the form of digital transformation, the rise of intangible economy, and the worldwide trend of co-existence between nationalism and globalism; this paper can provoke the policymakers to rethink good governance both for public and private institutions.
Ретроспективное исследование системы «человек — общество — окружающая среда» занимает все больше места в ряду интердисциплинарных научных проблем. Современное состояние экологии требует повышенного интереса не только к состоянию окружающей среды, но и к углубленному исследованию истории взаимоотношений человека и природы, изучению и сохранению природного и историко-культурного наследия. Цель статьи — постановка вопроса и предварительное изучение происхождения культовых мест и влияния природных факторов на их существование на примере Баргузинской котловины и других отдельных сакральных объектов Монголии. Результаты. Примение интердисциплинарного подхода позволило шире осветить проблемы исследования культовых мест и привлечь материалы, которые прежде не рассматривались в данном ракурсе.
History of Asia, Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
During the time, public sector is often assessed as the den of ineficiency, extravagance, and fun leakage. Therefore, an audital developmentation is required to be conducted as on existing openness and accountability to society. One of them is by extending an audit coverage, not only in fanancial auditing but rather strengthen in an execution to make an audit of the performance. A public accountability sector can be existed if performance audit earn the implementation manifestly in governance management.
Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) is one of the longest ruling parties in the world. The PAP’s ability to avoid overt factionalism over the years is exceptional, especially compared to the region’s personalistic or cadre parties. In recent years, the defection of former PAP cadre Dr. Tan Cheng Bock and the formation of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and PM Lee Hsien Loong’s family rivalry, which involved PAP elites, have challenged the cohesion of the PAP. This study examines a set of incentives and constraints institutionalised at the party and national levels to foster elite cohesion. It is argued that the critical junctures in the PAP’s early years led to the adoption of a cadre party model and a centralised candidate selection process that co-opts like-minded elites into a core that promotes elite unity. Nationally, party switching and factional alignments based on ethnicity or ideology have been systematically banned. Given the lack of credible alternatives that seriously challenge the incumbent PAP, ambitious party cadres would do better toeing the party line and staying loyal.
International relations, Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
The Semarang Police, as a form of bureaucratic reform in services, uses a Tour Driver's Licenseservice. However, in its implementation, there are still many obstacles, namely inadequate infrastructure for Tour Driver’s License services and lack of human resources. The purpose of this study was to analyze the service quality of a Tour Driver’s License in Semarang Regency and the factors inhibiting and supporting it. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach. The data analysis technique used is qualitative analysis (data condensation, data presentation and conclusion drawing). Based on the results of data analysis, it can be seen that the service quality of Tour Driver’s Licenses in Semarang Regency is good. Service implementers have the ability and are able to act professionally. It's just that in its implementation it is constrained by a lack of infrastructure, namely there is only one Tour Driver’s License unit, waiting chairs and tents are still not available, and a lack of human resources. There is a need for additional facilities, infrastructure and human resources to support the implementation of Tour Driver’s License services so that they are able to reach all areas in Semarang Regency.
Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
Normative political theorists have been growing more and more aware of the many difficult questions raised by the discretionary power inevitably left to public administrators. This article aims to advance a novel normative principle, called ‘principle of restraint’, regulating reform of established administrative agencies. I argue that the ability of public administrators to exercise their power in accordance with the requirements of public reason is protected by an attitude of restraint on the part of potential reformers. Specifically, they should refrain from any reform of an administrative agency that involves a switch to a considerably more loosely interconnected system of values underlying the work of that agency. To illustrate the importance of the principle of restraint, I examine a case from British health policy, showing that a recent reform of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence well exemplifies the serious problems brought by any violation of that principle.
Goals. The article introduces into scientific discourse materials dealing with
the history of ethnography research of Mongolic peoples. The work publishes a diary
kept by the author during the Soviet-Mongolian Comprehensive History and Culture
Research Expedition. The expedition began its work in 1969, and the diary covers the
events of 27 September to 26 October 1969. The introduced materials contain data
about everyday activities of the field research expedition, describe specific features of
the Mongolian dwelling, local household traditions, rites and superstitions.
History of Asia, Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
This paper introduces the challenges of studying parliamentary institutions in Southeast Asia. My focus of research is in three countries’ institutions: national parliaments of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. While in Southeast Asia, it is widely known that studying issues of politics and institutions face challenges – compared to studying culture, for example, this view is arguably no longer valid, however with certainqualification.
The comparison of parliamentary tradition between three countries – based on observation of the plenary session - reveals that the effectiveness of parliamentary works is related to parliamentary procedure, and even to the culture of work in the countries. Parliamentary structure, procedure and their political culture matters. Therefore, acknowledging these factors will give rise to more research opportunities, if a researcher plans to study the political institution in other countries in Southeast Asia.
History of Asia, Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
The paper addresses the problem of studying the vocabulary of translated
written Oirat-language monuments in comparison to their Tibetan-language originals.
It briefly describes the lexicographic works based on materials from ancient Buddhist
sources and available to modern Oiratologists. In addition, it examines some issues of
studying the language of the monuments through the use of modern computer programs,
provides examples of text processing, and analyzes the results obtained.
History of Asia, Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
It is safe to say that over the past decade, no region in the world as much as the Middle East and North Africa has been involved with rapid political developments, unrest and instability. The beginning of a cycle of mass protests and instability in the aftermath of the Arab Spring is just one of those cases. The main purpose of the present research is to explain the conditions of the Arab Spring formation. The main question of the present research is what caused the Arab Spring to begin with Tunisia and Egypt? In this research, it is attempted to explain the conditions of development and the beginning of the Arab Spring based on the multilevel and multidimensional approach. The main hypothesis of the study is that there were similarities between Tunisia and Egypt, which caused the Arab Spring to begin from these two countries. In the method, the present study is a case-oriented historical comparative study. The research process has been completed in three phases. In the first stage, the similarities between the two countries of Tunisia and Egypt were extracted. In the second stage, the causal relationship of the similarities extracted between Tunisia and Egypt was described in the form of nine variables, with the conditions of the development and occurrence of the Arab Spring. In the third phase, there was a general explanation of the conditions of the Arab Spring development, and it was shown why the Arab Spring started from Tunisia and Egypt
Political institutions and public administration (General), Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)
Kecamatan integrated administration service training (patent) aims to improve the operational quality of patents. This study aims to analyze the factual model, design a hypothetical model and develop a patent training model in order to improve the performance of the camat in leading the implementation of patents. The research method is research and development. Data collection techniques include documentation studies, observations, interviews, and questionnaires, data validity is done with reliability, validity, and triangulation of data, while data analysis techniques use qualitative, quantitative and experimental models. The results showed that the factual model of needs analysis, training planning and target material was only for the staff of the district apparatus. Based on the factual model, a hypothetical model is included: (1) planning oriented to improving the performance of the subdistrict head; (2) implementation: following general and specific learning objectives and actual issues, success stories and (3) control: at the end of the training pre-test and post-training are conducted. Then the final model of patent training was developed to improve the performance of the subdistrict head. Conclusion: Patent development training can improve one's managerial ability, managerial skills: a) Technical skills, b) Skills in human relationships and c) Conceptual skills. Research Implications: The Central Java Provincial Government conducted a more in-depth study of training needs to strengthen the delivery of public services in realizing good governance. Districts always create innovations to improve better public services.
Political institutions and public administration - Asia (Asian studies only)