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In general, the basic concept of various theories of E-government adoption is individual reaction to use E-government as an independent variable, then intention (behavioral intention) to use E-government as an intermediary variable. The development of e-government adoption theory is developing dynamically. Scholars have developed several models to find out more about the reasons for individuals to accept and use technology and to find out what factors have a significant influence. In this paper, the author will discuss the theory of The unified model of e-government adoption (UMEGA) by adding the variables Perceived Enjoyment (TAM 3) and Habit (UTAUT 2). These variables measure internal factors and external factors that in previous studies had a high level of influence on the use of e-government. The finding in this study is that the social influence variable has a significant impact on attitudes to using e-government. More specifically, local culture is one factor that also has an inhibiting effect on the implementation of e-government. People prefer to use offline services compared to online/e-service/e-government services. This is because the public is worried about the risks experienced, such as data security, the possibility of system failure in public services, and other risk issues that develop in the community. In addition, the community also prefers to come directly to the service office due to public trust related to local cultures, such as (Ewuh Pakewuh, desire to stay in touch with other visitors, shy culture, etc.). If it is assumed, local culture, especially in Yogyakarta, is contrary to the culture of applying technology widely adopted by western countries, which are more open to modern culture, especially technology.
More...Authorities in strategic change through AI
The digital revolution is an issue for local authorities to actively shape the dynamic change of service expectations.The Objectives of the research project are investigations in how AI-support can speed up decisions of authorities in unknown, dynamically changing situations professionally. The scientific interest lies in the question of possible linking options between learning theories of adult human education and deep learning strategies of machine learning approaches. The Prior work serves the element of service optimization for citizens or business concerning the use of AI-applications for direct interaction and for process optimization in the background of processing.The Approach is in addition to an introduction to the basic user scenarios of AI technology in the public task spectrum of local governance. In this respect, it bases on the empirical findings of the study ‘Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration - Fields of Application and Scenarios”.The Results concern the understanding that human and AI-basic technologies are action-oriented learning systems performing in the fields of creating services in the web 4.0, such as the internet of things. Development learning theories, such as transformative learning for Data Scientists and Public Managers, should have an impact on more customer related AI-applications.The Implications of this interdisciplinary projekt should give an impact to academics in the public management and data sciences as well as specialists of learning in the field of human and machine-interaction. For practioners and leaders of local authorities, the possibilities of implementing AI-services should become clear.The Value of the paper lies in the combination of administrative, learn-strategic, technological, and ethical requirements to be proposed in order to get the application scenarios of AI off the ground, also in the sense of acceptance management in the face of persistent innovation blockades of general ‘smart government’ measures.
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The article examines China’s geo-economic interest in Africa. China intends to exercise its leverage over both coastal frontiers for trade and defense and its hinterland for rich mineral, metal, and fossil deposits. Furthermore, the debt trap seems to be one of the methods through which China intended to bargain with Africa to bag as much advantage as it could gain. The question that emerges from this critical engagement with China-Africa relations is to look into how the reality of Africa’s narrative of development is projected both from outside and within and the contradiction embodied in that projection. China used the narrative of development to set its feet on African soil. This paper discusses China’s penetration into Africa by offering interest-free loans and its gradual emergence as a neocolonial power through expanding its network. The method used in the study to establish China’s monopoly and interfering streak in African affairs through BRI is the analysis of available data based on which the objectives and the conclusions are drawn.
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The Balkans is considered a vital area in international relations. It has always attracted and is still attracting the interest of global and regional powers and factors on the international stage, including Turkey. Besides the political, economic, and defense aspects, the soft power of Turkish multidimensional diplomacy represents one of the most important segments of the relations between Turkey and the Balkan countries. Turkish government institutions like the Diyanet (Presidency of Religious Affairs), Yunus Emre, Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), TIKA, Turkish State Media, Maarif education institutions, and various non-governmental organizations represent some of the most vital segments of the cultural, religious and educational expansion of the Turkish state in the Balkan countries. This paper is mainly based on the following research methods: historical, descriptive, and in-depth analysis. This study aims to answer the main question of this research - Do the above-mentioned soft power policy tools play a vital role in the further development of Turkey-Balkan countries relations? This paper concludes that the Turkish soft power policy in the Balkans faces a series of challenges that affect its expansion's functionality and success.
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This article examines the Albanian political regime, as a single case study, for the period 2013-2021, as part of the Western Balkans' experience of democratic backsliding, by investigating the framework of factors linked with the formidable challenge posed by the emergence of a hybrid regime of Albania in these years. For the first time in Albania’s post-communist history, the incumbent Socialist Party of Albania won for the third time in a row the parliamentary elections of April 2021, thus making the bid for the power of the leading opposition parties much harder. This paper uses country-expert statistical data from V-Dem and qualitative data analyses. The study reveals that the over-reliance on strong leaders, the growing government control over public life, fragmentation of the opposition, its lack of appeal, organization and mobilization, the boycott of the parliamentary mandates, combined with the weakening role of media and distrust of the citizens in democratic institutions, led to the resurgence of the authoritarian mechanisms, making the liberal democratic transformation in Albania an increasingly challenging task.
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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are now unquestionable contributors to economic development on the one side and employment creation on the other. To promote sustained growth, SMEs must meet specific prerequisites, particularly the leadership structures of this segment. Therefore, this research aims to investigate and identify the determinants that affect SMEs performance. The research employs a qualitative technique, using questionnaires containing 52 questions. The study surveyed 336 SMEs owners or managers from March to April 2022. The Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR) empirical technique explored the influence of education level, previous experience, training attendance, business plan, consultation services, and employees' insufficient competency in SMEs performance. The research has revealed that the level of education and consultancy services positively impact SMEs performance. In contrast, neglect of training and employees' insufficient competence harm SMEs performance. The study encourages SMEs owners and managers to take advantage of professional training opportunities and to invest in existing personnel through training to acquire acceptable competence, which will be reflected in management performance. From the perspective of the contribution, it provides the most recent evidence in the context of Kosovo's economy, employing the logistic regression analysis.
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The XXI is considered by major countries in the Asia-Pacific region as ‘the century of sea and ocean’ and is accompanied by fierce competition among the nations to gain interest in the sea regions. On the basis that previously only considered the competition for military objectives, geostrategic bases and traffic channels through the straits, nowadays, countries worldwide have stepped up the competition for economic interests and marine resources. The development of military power and the competitive activities for resources at sea show clear the tendency to use the sea to contain the continent. In that context, the Indian Ocean, as the world’s third largest ocean, has an important geographic location and rich and diverse natural resources; the arterial sea route is gradually becoming the center of new world geopolitics and an important area in the strategic competition between two ‘Asian giants’ - India and China. The competition between these countries in the Indian Ocean is growing and profoundly impacts the region’s stability and security. This article focuses on the position and important role of the Indian Ocean in the policies of India and China, the fierce competition between the two countries in nearly two decades of the XXI century.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of corruption on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Western Balkans countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Albania. Secondary data from The World Bank, Transparency International, and International Monetary Fund databases were utilized to complete this study for 2012-2020. The built model of multiple linear regression included four independent variables, namely: Corruption Perception Index (CPI), Western Balkan Corruption Ranking (WBCR), Exchange Rate (EXG), and Inflation Rate (INFL), as well as FDI as a dependent variable, and data effects were analyzed through the SPPS scientific research software program. The results found that if CPI and WBCR were to increase by one unit, FDI would decrease by 0.088, namely 0.624, while if EXG and INFL were to increase by one unit, FDI would increase by 0.165, namely 0.236. In order to fight corruption and potentially attract more foreign direct investment, the governments of these countries should work to harmonize their anti-corruption laws with those of the European Union. In order to prevent the negative consequences of FDI inflows, they should also maintain a balanced rate of inflation, which entails stabilizing exchange rate fluctuations.
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Local self-governments (LSGs) cannot effectively manage emergencies. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to find action policies that would facilitate the increase of capacities of LSGs in such situations. The starting point for defining the policy was collecting data on the current abilities and capacities of LSGs in AP Vojvodina. The research covered 40% of the total number of LSGs and more than 64% of the population in the AP of Vojvodina. A combined open-ended survey questionnaire was constructed for data collection. The data was collected in field conditions through online procedures, direct sending of written surveys, and direct discussion of project implementation leaders. The statistical analysis of data identified that the legal aspect of LSGs and emergencies was not harmonized with other institutional documents at the level of LSGs. Most LSGs had serious difficulties in managing emergencies, especially civil protection. The platform is envisaged to facilitate raising the prevention capacity of LSGs by integrating all relevant information to provide early warnings and indications for implementing corresponding organizational, technical, and economic measures to deal with emergencies.
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Leading political scientists discuss social and economic dimensions of the crisis of the liberal political order underway in Poland since the United Right took power in 2015. The consequences and repercussions for the civil society and the country’s politics are analyzed and an effort of a prognosis for the future is made. Democracy in Poland is in a deep crisis. Neo-authoritarianism is not inevitable yet, but the outposts of a political regime of this kind are being implanted by the ruling coalition.
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has global and regional dimensions with deep implications for international security. The war poses strategic questions also for the actors from the Persian Gulf region as it affects them directly and indirectly in terms of security relationships, energy markets, and economic stability. Three Arab Gulf states – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar – experience contradictory incentives and disincentives with regard to their reaction to the war in Ukraine. This article aims to analyze the stance of those three key Arab Gulf players towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the first year of the full-scale war. In the article, we argue that the stance of those three Arab Gulf states can be analyzed through Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) as their reaction is best explained through a regional perspective. The article offers a comprehensive explanation, emphasizing the importance of the intra-Gulf security dynamics.
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The late 1990s, when censorship was introduced in China, was a watershed moment for many Chinese companies. At that time, as many Western applications became banned in China, Chinese entrepreneurs began to develop their products at a much faster pace. An example is Tencent company which launched the WeChat application, which revolutionized the E-commerce market in China within just a few years. Chinese E-commerce differs from the Western Internet markets by the characteristics of consumer behavior, shopping platforms, or brands, which is a new co-creation model among consumers and brands. The given research paper presents a fragment of the results of own research conducted among the entrepreneurs and individuals who use the WeChat application for business or/and private purposes in China. The aim of the following study is to present the Chinese E-commerce market, and the difference between the Western and Chinese customer approaches in the example of the WeChat application. The research method used is a WeChat application case study in China. The source of the work is an analysis of the literature query in the field of E-commerce, analysis of the statistical data, and primary data, i.e., a fragment of the results of the pilot own research.
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This research aimed to measure the impact of innovations (product innovation, technological innovation, marketing innovation, and process innovations) on the financial performance of exporting enterprises. It was based on return on assets (ROA), increase in return on sales, net profit, and increases in value per employee. The research was carried out based on primary data through the quantitative method. The study's participants were 150 Kosovo exporting companies selected randomly. Based on Pearson’s correlation analysis, it was found that there is a weak positive linear relationship between organizational innovations and product innovation, and financial performance. Additionally, a moderate positive linear relationship exists between marketing innovations, process innovations, and financial performance. Referring to the multiple linear regression, it was revealed that innovations explain 46.7% of financial performance. Process and marketing innovation had the greatest impact on financial performance, while organizational innovation had a lesser impact. The findings of this research contribute to improving the financial performance of exporting companies in Kosovo, focusing on the type of innovation that most influences performance.
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The paper analyzed the development stages in the taxation of the income of natural persons in the Republic of North Macedonia through the prism of their compliance with the theoretical approaches in regulating the matter of income taxation. For this purpose, the initial stage of this research was the review of the impact of frequent amendments to the regulatory framework (relevant legislation) on the realization of the principles of vertical and horizontal justice. In the analysis of the normative-legal framework, the primary focus was the regulation’s influence on the realization of the principle of justice in taxation in the legal system of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM). Additionally, the teleological method was used to identify the level of realization of the goals and functions of the RNM tax system. In that context, the effects of income taxation on the redistributive function were analyzed. The basic hypothesis from which the paper starts is that the frequent changes and modifications in income taxation concepts resulted in violating social-political principles in taxation. The research results indicate an inconsistency in the development of the system of income taxation of natural persons in RNM, which leads to a violation of the vertical and horizontal justice and the redistributive function of the income tax.
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This paper addressed the globally spread challenges that countries face, such as environmental issues, which have been accumulated for years, and financial crises, which have been repeated many times in the world’s economy during capitalism. Indeed, through a qualitative scientific approach, the article argued that laissez-faire economics or laissez-faire capitalism (as an economic system or doctrine, i.e., a liberal and classical view of economics) is not the right way to overcome and deal with these problems. Instead, some interventions in the economy and cooperation between countries and the respective institutions are required so that these difficulties (environmental issues and financial crises), which do not recognize borders, are prevented and afforded properly. Thus, this publication presented how challenging environmental issues are, which are spread worldwide, and it also discussed financial crises, such as the 2008 Financial Crisis (also known as the Great Recession) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Overall, this paper concluded that dual crises (environmental and financial crises) are the robust proofs that dismiss the extreme form of capitalism or economics, known as laissez-faire.
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When discussing such a complex concept as culture, it is forever interesting, even surprising, to find out what definitions people give to this all-encompassing notion; what better way to delve into Indian culture and the inner workings of cultural diplomacy and relations than to speak to someone most knowledgeable in the field, the Ambassador of India to Romania, Moldova and Albania, Mr. Rahul Shrivastava. His Excellency was kind enough to sacrifice his time in favor of cultural matters, despite his busy schedule.
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This text analyzes the governance strategies employed in post-civil war and genocide Rwanda for peacebuilding within the context of economic development. Rwanda, with the assistance of the international community, aimed at reconciliation and democracy. Despite challenging circumstances following the conflict, the government achieved stability and initiated internal reforms, particularly in the security sector, since the mid-1990s. The persistent power structure of the Rwandan National Front prompts an exploration into the extent to which an economic development-based approach has contributed to security and peacebuilding in Rwanda. We hypothesize that such measures play a key role in establishing resilient societies capable of preventing the recurrence of intractable conflicts through the attainment of inclusive economic development. The theory of human needs advocates for the utilization of interoperability as a conflict resolution mechanism, applicable to Rwanda as well. It posits that lasting peace is only achievable when various facets of human economic needs are systematically addressed. This article seeks to critically assess how post-genocide economic reform measures in Rwanda have contributed to achieving security and peace. Furthermore, it explores how effective leadership and engagement policies contribute to economic security in Rwanda. The article argues that post-conflict security management and peacebuilding processes require the implementation of effective economic development policies, including resource redistribution, as a critical component of a comprehensive development strategy.
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The geopolitical stability of the world is usually undermined by contemporary rivalry between states. However, the Bougainville province independence movement may be considered as the peculiarity of world order, where new statehood will appear in a brand new context of independence struggle within a multiethnic state created by the decolonization process. The aim of the study is to review the genesis, course and impact of the conflict in the province of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea in accordance with other separatisms in Southeast Asia and the Pacific area. The main methods utilized for the most important factors comparison and description are the geographic descriptive synthesis method and geopolitical risk analytics, with the help of the cartographic method and sources databases comparison. The social, political and economic situation of Bougainville, which occurred after the opening of the copper and gold mines, was analyzed. The paper presents the effects of the development of the mining industry on the island. The process of destabilization on the island and its impact on the beginning of the armed conflict in Bougainville were discussed. The work also shows the situation after the end of the war and reviews the course and impact of the referendum in Bougainville. It should answer as to whether this separatism is a new type of secessionist movement, or rather, it is a normally occurring process with peculiar conclusions of being successful. It turns out that most of the political, social, and economic factors were specific, so this independence movement is rather peculiar and may be initial for new secessionist rebellions and incoming tendencies in the region or the whole world.
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Local government, as an extremely important element of the political system of the state’s political system, carries out public tasks not reserved by law for other organs of public authority. To this end, the state secures the possibility of implementation of tasks by the local government, providing it with a balanced system of finances and the appropriate distribution of sources of income, allowing the implementation of assigned tasks. Today, the challenges facing local self-government are different than just a few years ago. In recent years, the biggest problem has been effectively dealing with the effects of pandemics, restrictions on economic activity, the need to help war refugees from Ukraine, etc. Therefore, it is important to analyze on an ongoing basis to what extent the public finance system is transparent and allows them to effectively support local and regional development at the social, economic and spatial levels. The article presents an assessment of the financial situation of local government units in Poland in 2018-2022 based on selected financial indicators. Such a time frame coincides with the extended term of local governments and allows for comparing data from the years preceding the pandemic and the outbreak of war in Ukraine and looking at the situation's impact on the subsequent years of local government units. The article presents the main issues of own income, property expenditures and operating results of local government units at all levels. The data source for analyzing the relationship between the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine and the financial situation of local government units in Poland is the database of the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office.
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