scholarly journals The Middle East and COVID-19: time for collective action

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Fawcett
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Regional Governance ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Regional Organizations ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
The Impact

AbstractRevised: Nov 6 2021The shortfalls of multilateral and regional organizations in respect of handling the COVID-19 pandemic have been well rehearsed by scholars and policy makers in multiple publications and statements. While the World Health Organization (WHO) and its regional offices have coordinated global responses, regional organizations, like the European Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or African Union, have played complementary roles. However, the response of different regions has varied, revealing multiple deficits in the structures of regional governance. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a region affected by chronic ongoing conflicts and serious inequalities in health and welfare provision, reflected in the absence of concerted responses to the pandemic. Its young population has meant lower comparative mortality rates, but the socio-economic spill-over effects are grave in terms of interrupted education, high unemployment, particularly in respect to vulnerable communities like refugees and migrant workers. With the current situation remaining critical, this paper reviews the impact of COVID-19 on MENA and considers the variable performance of states and institutions to the pandemic, highlighting the shortfalls, but also opportunities for collective action. Drawing on data from the WHO, United Nations (UN), regional organizations, media and secondary sources, it first discusses the wider global-regional context; second, reviews the actions of regional bodies, like the League of Arab States, Gulf Cooperation Council and the cross-regional Organization of Islamic Cooperation; and third, looks at some country-specific situations where both evidence of good practice and the absence of appropriate regional level provision have exposed deep regional divides. It concludes with a call for more collaboration between states and international organizations: better regional coordination is urgently needed to supplement existing multilateral efforts. A collective local response to the COVID-19 pandemic could help transcend regional divides and spur much-needed security cooperation in other areas.

Taking Stock of Regional Democratic Trends in Africa and the Middle East Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
The State ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Gulf Region ◽  
The Impact

This GSoD In Focus aims at providing a brief overview of the state of democracy in Africa and the Middle East at the end of 2019, prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, and then assesses some of the preliminary impacts that the pandemic has had on democracy in the region in the last 10 months. Key facts and findings include: Africa • In 2019 alone, 75 per cent of African democracies saw their scores decline, and electoral processes in Africa have failed to become the path for political reform and democratic politics. The reasons are many, including weak electoral management and executive aggrandizement. • The key challenges to democracy brought about by the pandemic involve the management of elections, restrictions on civil liberties (especially freedom of expression), worsening gender equality, deepening social and economic inequalities, a disruption to education, deterioration of media integrity, disruption of parliaments and an amplified risk of corruption. These challenges exacerbate and accelerate long-standing problems in the region. • Despite the challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic might galvanize governments to reinforce public health and social protection mechanisms, rendering the state more able to cushion the impact of the crisis, and enhancing its legitimacy. The Middle East • The Middle East is the most undemocratic region in the world. Only 2 out of 13 countries in the region are democracies. The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened the economic and social problems of the region, which could exacerbate the pre-existing democratic challenges. • Freedoms of expression and media were severely curtailed in many countries in the region prior to the pandemic. In some cases, COVID-19 has aggravated this. Countries have closed media outlets and banned the printing and distribution of newspapers, under the pretext of combating the spread of COVID-19. This has restricted citizens’ access to information. • Migrant workers and internally displaced people have been disproportionally affected by COVID-19. A significant proportion of the infections in the region have been in impoverished migrant and refugee communities. In the Gulf region, curfews and lockdowns have resulted in many migrants losing their livelihood, right to medical attention and even repatriation. Migrants have also faced discrimination often being held in detention centres, in poor conditions, as part of governmental efforts to curb the number of COVID-19 infections among citizens. The review of the state of democracy during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 uses qualitative analysis and data of events and trends in the region collected through International IDEA’s Global Monitor of COVID-19’s Impact on Democracy and Human Rights, an initiative co-funded by the European Union.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Association between Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in the Capital of the Green Lungs of Poland–Population-Based Study with 2,953,000 Person-Years of Follow-Up

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2351
Author(s):  
Łukasz Kuźma ◽  
Krzysztof Struniawski ◽  
Szymon Pogorzelski ◽  
Hanna Bachórzewska-Gajewska ◽  
Sławomir Dobrzycki
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Daily Mortality ◽  
Male Population ◽  
The Impact

(1) Introduction: air pollution is considered to be one of the main risk factors for public health. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of approximately 500,000 citizens of the European Union (EU), including almost 5000 inhabitants of Poland every year. (2) Purpose: to assess the gender differences in the impact of air pollution on the mortality in the population of the city of Bialystok—the capital of the Green Lungs of Poland. (3) Materials and Methods: based on the data from the Central Statistical Office, the number—and causes of death—of Białystok residents in the period 2008–2017 were analyzed. The study utilized the data recorded by the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection station and the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management during the analysis period. Time series regression with Poisson distribution was used in statistical analysis. (4) Results: A total of 34,005 deaths had been recorded, in which women accounted for 47.5%. The proportion of cardiovascular-related deaths was 48% (n = 16,370). An increase of SO2 concentration by 1-µg/m3 (relative risk (RR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.12; p = 0.005) and a 10 °C decrease of temperature (RR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.05; p = 0.005) were related to an increase in the number of daily deaths. No gender differences in the impact of air pollution on mortality were observed. In the analysis of the subgroup of cardiovascular deaths, the main pollutant that was found to have an effect on daily mortality was particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5); the RR for 10-µg/m3 increase of PM2.5 was 1.07 (95% CI 1.02–1.12; p = 0.01), and this effect was noted only in the male population. (5) Conclusions: air quality and atmospheric conditions had an impact on the mortality of Bialystok residents. The main air pollutant that influenced the mortality rate was SO2, and there were no gender differences in the impact of this pollutant. In the male population, an increased exposure to PM2.5 concentration was associated with significantly higher cardiovascular mortality. These findings suggest that improving air quality, in particular, even with lower SO2 levels than currently allowed by the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, may benefit public health. Further studies on this topic are needed, but our results bring questions whether the recommendations concerning acceptable concentrations of air pollutants should be stricter, or is there a safe concentration of SO2 in the air at all.

Populism and Foreign Policy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertjan Verbeek ◽  
Andrej Zaslove
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Cold War ◽  
Radical Right ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Regional Organizations ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
Opportunity Structures ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
The Impact

This chapter discusses the impact of international politics on the rise of populist parties as well as the impact of populism on the foreign policy of the countries in which populist parties are present. It argues that the end of the Cold War, the advent of globalization, and the impact of regional organizations (e.g. the European Union) presented opportunity structures that facilitated the rise of populist parties. Similarly, the chapter argues that the effect of populist parties on their countries’ foreign policy is largely due to their attaching ideology. The chapter thus distinguishes between four types of populist parties, each attaching salience to different foreign policy issues: the populist radical right, the populist market liberal, the populist regionalist, and the populist left.

scholarly journals Priorities for improving chemicals management in the WHO European Region—stakeholders’ views

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 812-817
Author(s):  
Joanne A Vincenten ◽  
Irina Zastenskaya ◽  
Peter Schröder-Bäck ◽  
Dorota Iwona Jarosinska
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
National Level ◽  
World Health ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
Chemical Safety ◽  
Chemicals Management ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Prevention of the impact of chemicals on human health and the environment is an increasing focus of public health polices and policy makers. The World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health wanted to know what were stakeholders’ priorities for improving chemicals management and prevention. Methods Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 18 diverse stakeholders to answer this question. The interview questionnaire was developed using current WHO chemical meeting reports, the Evidence Implementation Model for Public Health Systems and categories of the theory of diffusion. Stakeholder views were attained on three main questions within the questionnaire. (i) What priority actions should be undertaken to minimize the negative impact of chemicals? (ii) Who needs to be more involved and what roles should they have? (iii) How can science and knowledge on chemicals and health be translated into policies more effectively and what are the greatest barriers to overcome? Results Cross cutting issues, such as legislation strengthening and enforcement, further collection of information, capacity building, education and awareness raising were considered priorities. The responders had the same vision on roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders. The greatest barrier to adoption, implementation and enforcement of evidence-based policies reported was leadership and political commitment to chemical safety. Conclusions Priorities raised differed depending on knowledge, professional background and type of stakeholder. Factors influencing priority identification at the national level include international and global context, availability of information, knowledge of the current situation and evidence-based good practice, and risks and priorities identified through national assessments.

The impact of the European Union visa liberalisation process on the reduction of organised crime and corruption in Kosovo

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 123-139
Author(s):  
Paulina Szeląg
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
European Parliament ◽  
Organised Crime ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Track Record ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

On January 19, 2012, the European Commission (Commission) decided to launch a visa liberalisation dialogue with Kosovo, and on June 14, 2012, it handed over to Kosovo’s government a ‘Roadmap Towards a Visa-free Regime’. This document included 95 requirements that Kosovo had to fulfil. By 2016, the Commission had adopted four reports on progress made by Kosovo in the visa dialogue. In a report issued on May 4, 2016, the EC proposed to the Council of the EU (Council) and the European Parliament (EP) to lift visa requirements on the citizens of Kosovo. The Commission stressed that by the day of the adoption of the proposal by the EP and the Council, Kosovo must have ratified the border/boundary agreement with Montenegro and strengthened its track record in the fight against organised crime and corruption. On July 18, 2018, the Commission confirmed in a report on the progress made by Kosovo in the visa dialogue, that the country had fulfilled the last two requirements included in the roadmap. The aim of this article is to analyse the visa-liberalisation dialogue between the European Union (EU) and Kosovo and whether liberalisation through a visa-free regime with Kosovo had an influence on reducing organised crime and corruption in Kosovo. The article is based on an analysis of primary and secondary sources, as well as statistical data.

THE ACTIVIY OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN COVID-19 CRISIS MANAGEMENT

2021 ◽  
pp. 114-127
Author(s):  
Svetlana Cebotari ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The North ◽  
Un Security Council ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

One of the most discussed issues in academia, but also in the discourse of polemologists, political scientists, economists and specialists in other fields is the issue regarding the impact of the COVID-19 virus on international security. Although all the attention of the international community has been focused on the emergence of the COVID-19 virus and its impact on the individual, societal, human and interpersonal relationships, it is worth paying attention to the involvement of international organizations in managing the COVID-19 crisis. This article aims to highlight the role and involvement of international organizations in managing the COVID-19 crisis. The involvement of the United Nations, specifically of the UN Security Council, in the management of issues related to the COVID-19 crisis will be examined. The activity of the World Health Organization, the European Union, the North Atlantic Alliance in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic will also be examined.

Impact of the Pandemic on the Indian Economy and Wellbeing

2022 ◽  
pp. 133-145
Author(s):  
Chitra Krishnan ◽  
Richa Goel ◽  
Jasmine Mariappan
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Social Insurance ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Migrant Population ◽  
Indian Economy ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Wellness Education ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

The goal of the study is to look at the impact of COVID-19 on major industries including automobiles, wellness, education, tourism, and many others, as well as migrant workers' status. COVID-19, a sudden epidemic, has had a devastating impact on the Indian economy. The migrant population was also affected by this situation. They were concerned about labor shortages, monthly rationing, and social insurance shortages. In this investigation, secondary data was gathered. The study focuses on the influence of COVID-19 on important industries such as automotive, wellness, education, tourism, and so on, as well as the position of migrant workers. Secondary data was acquired for this inquiry. Blogs, magazines, newspapers, news from foreign agencies, written academic papers, government materials, and websites are examples of secondary sources. Educational institutions, customers, legislators, the government, and the community will all profit from this research.

Case Study: Foreign Workers in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 733-746
Author(s):  
Sheikh Mohammad Maniruzzaman Al Masud ◽  
Rohana Binti Hamzah ◽  
Hasan Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Journal Article ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Temporary Workers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Irregular Migrants ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Growing Economy ◽  
The Impact

Malaysia has become a popular destination for many foreign workers since getting independence in 1957, owing to its rapidly growing economy and industrialisation. Most of the migrant workers in Malaysia are low-skilled or uneducated, and public debate is going on their outcome, whether it is substantial or not. The purpose of this study is to manifest the role and contribution of imported labour to the Malaysian economy. Evidence is collected from secondary sources- journal article, relevant books, and online databases. The review finds that the impact of migrant labour on Malaysian growth has not been studied holistically and sufficiently. Existing evidence shows that although it is somewhat positive, the public attitude is most adverse to illegal and irregular migrants. Therefore, more empirical research is required to determine the role of imported temporary workers on the economy of Malaysia, for its ongoing vision- to become a high-income nation.

Exploring the status and effects of balanced scorecard adoption in the non-western context

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1063-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fauzia Jabeen ◽  
Mohamed Behery
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Corporate Performance ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Western World ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the status of corporate performance management (PM) in the Middle Eastern context, represented by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In addition, the current study investigates the effects of the adoption of the balanced scorecard (BSC) and aims to explore the impact of the BSC on workplace attitudes and behaviors, as shown by accountability, inspiration, and motivation. Design/methodology/approach Due to the limited knowledge about the subject matter and the limited number of companies adopting the BSC in the Middle East, this study has adopted a descriptive approach to verify the significance of the BSC and to explore the causal relationship amongst the performance perspectives and the different dimensions of the BSC. The sample was drawn from five major business sectors in the UAE and KSA. Findings The results indicate that the BSC indicators are effective tools to evaluate and reflect on corporate performance. The concept of the BSC is considered good practice in the UAE and the KSA. Because of the concept’s compatibility with the local culture and business practices, it can be used to balance shareholder and stakeholder demands. Research limitations/implications One of the main limitations of this study is that the sample is drawn from only two countries from the Middle East and, hence, cannot be generalized. Originality/value This study is one of the first attempts to explore the status of the corporate PM systems in a non-western context using a BSC technique created and typically applied in the western world. In addition, this study is considered a valuable attempt at exploring the effects of the adoption of this technique on an organization’s performance.

ILSI Europe’s Food Allergy Task Force: From Defining the Hazard to Assessing the Risk from Food Allergens

2018 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
René R W Crevel ◽  
Stefan Ronsmans ◽  
Cyril F M Marsaux ◽  
Diána Bánáti
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Food Allergy ◽  
Task Force ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Food Allergies ◽  
Food Allergens ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Funded Project ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Europe Food Allergy Task Force was founded in response to early public concerns about the growing impact of food allergies almost coincidentally with the publication of the 1995 Food and Agriculture Organization-World Health Organization Technical Consultation on Food Allergies. In line with ILSI principles aimed to foster collaboration between stakeholders to promote consensus on science-based approaches to food safety and nutrition, the task force has played a central role since then in the development of risk assessment for food allergens. This ranged from consideration of the criteria to be applied to identifying allergens of public health concern through methodologies to determine the relationship between dose and the proportion of allergic individuals reacting, as well as the nature of the observed responses. The task force also promoted the application of novel, probabilistic risk assessment methods to better delineate the impact of benchmarks, such as reference doses, and actively participated in major European food allergy projects, such as EUROPREVALL, the European Union (EU)-funded project “The prevalence, cost and basis of food allergy across Europe;” and iFAAM, “Integrated approaches to food allergen and allergy risk management,” also an EU-funded project. Over the years, the task force’s work has evolved as answers to initial questions raised further issues: Its current work program includes a review of analytical methods and how different ones can best be deployed given their strengths and limitations. Another activity, which has just commenced, aims to develop a framework for stakeholders to achieve consensus on acceptable risk.

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