СУЧАСНІ ВИКЛИКИ МІЖНАРОДНОЇ ТА НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ

The article provides insights into the modern aspects and challenges of economic globalization that triggers a fundamental change in the world economic order, as well as demonstrates the emergence of a new global economic culture, a new type of economic consciousness and a new type of international relations. In this context, exploring globalization processes and identifying their patterns seems especially relevant. The study reveals that within on-going globalization settings, the scale of international economic relations demonstrates a rapidly growing trend, the number of their immediate participants is increasing, the forms of these relationships are being updated and getting more complicated. It is observed that in the vulnerable market economic environment with intensified international competition there are more and more common issues to be addressed by joint efforts in searching for effective solutions, moreover, there are certain conflicts arising that can be resolved only at the regional and multilateral levels. A special emphasis is put on the need to integrate collective efforts of international organizations and forums through economic diplomacy which will contribute to finding the best compromise between governments to meet the interests of all or most of stakeholders in the world community, for many countries this will mean to benefit from international mechanisms and procedures, and reducing adverse effects from TNC activities to engross the advantages of globalization. The study findings have verified that from international economic relations perspectives, among fundamental reasons behind business globalization are the advances in computer and communication technology which exchanging of ideas and information between different countries, expand consumer awareness of foreign-made products. The study also demonstrates how cable systems in Europe and Asia facilitate firms in many countries to shape simultaneously both regional and sometimes global demand, and global communication networks allow them coordinating production and aligning common goals worldwide while companies located in different parts of the world produce the same end product. It is argued that reducing customs barriers to investment and trade by the vast majority of governments proves effective in launching in new markets for international export companies that offer opportunities and capacities for local producers. Apart from the above, the study has traced a trend towards unification and socialization of the global community. In particular, it is observed that continuous changes in the governance paradigm as well as in the international environment impose an integrated effect upon social, political and mental aspects of national interests. It is concluded that building a conceptual framework of national and international interests is a complex and long-term process influenced by geopolitical, economic, socio-cultural and psychological factors, being adjusted through the system of social values and reflected in research studies and manifestations of collective consciousness. From this perspective, the key aspects of national and international security have been explored.

From ‘Bad Samaritans’ to ‘Bad Victims’: A Political Economy of Africa-Nigeria Nexus of Poverty

This paper examines the linkages between moral categorisations on the international economic order and the dysfunctions that negate efforts at combating the Africa-Nigeria poverty conditions in the contemporary period. Drawing from the thesis of Ha-Joon Chang’s ‘Bad Samaritans’, it analyses the contradictions in the often-repeated declarations on ‘fight against poverty’ in Nigeria and the endemic dysfunctions in leadership and institutions that ought to play significant roles in understanding and recalibrating the hegemonic influence of wealthy nations who control the global economy.

Does Technical Analysis Win?

The main goal of this chapter is to analyze the performance of four investment strategies within a recent period of international political uncertainties. RSI and MACD supported three competing investment strategies, which were compared to the conservative Buy and Hold strategy. Euro Stoxx 50 Index was selected through the Markowitz Theory, and the DAX index was established as a benchmark. The period considered was between the start of Donald Trump's official campaign to the US elections and the first date set for Brexit. Two subsequent additional studies were performed to evaluate their profitability. The entry and exit points were determined by international economic reports. Alternative time lengths for the RSI window were considered. The results suggest that, when the market is bear or undefined, the investor should have a strategy supported on technical analysis and he should consider more than one indicator to increase the information that is taken from the market. The passive Buy and Hold strategy should be considered when the market is considered a bull market.

Vulnerability to COVID-19, prejudice, and support for economic restrictions towards countries with high level of contamination

Recent research has extensively investigated how the current COVID-19 pandemic can affect intergroup relations. Much less is known about the impact of COVID-19 on economic and trade decisions. Could the intergroup effects of this pandemic shape support for international economic policies? The aim of this study was to examine the support for restrictive economic policies towards countries with very high levels of COVID-19 contamination (China and Italy) during the first lockdown period (March - April 2020). The survey was conducted in Romania (N = 669) and included measures of COVID-19 vulnerability, prejudice, and support for economic restrictive policy (e.g., to reduce international trade; to set higher taxes). Results showed that higher support for restrictive policies toward China was associated with greater perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 and this link was partially mediated by prejudice toward China. In contrast, support for economic restrictive policies toward Italy was greater when perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 was high, but this relationship between variables was not explained by negative attitudes towards Italy. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Post-Soviet States of Eurasia in International Economic Relations

The present article is devoted to the analysis of participation of new post-Soviet Eurasian states in international economic relations, of current goals and strategic targets of this policy in the economic development of these states. Many, in fact the majority of them appeared to be unable after achieving political sovereignty to solve complex economic problems of national development since they had neither organizational experience in carrying out an independent and effective economic policy nor the personnel, technological and financial provisions for these goals. Therefore new independent Eurasian states had to approach foreign countries searching for adequate forms and methods of cooperation with them on these issues. In this connection the article explores the nature of interrelations between post-Soviet states with their principal foreign partners on a bilateral basis as well as in multilateral international economic organizations, of the comparative role of political and economic factors in these relations. Some of the post-Soviet states have begun their participation in the Eurasian integration project headed by Russia, others aim at solving their external political and economic problems by strengthening relations with the USA and European Union on a priority basis, still others see the way out in promoting their orientation primarily on their closest regional partners (such as China, Turkey, Iran). However, neither of these directions of external economic activities has become a dominant one on the post-Soviet space. Moreover, some of their elements may get a priority significance, neighboring others or even replacing them at various stages of development of this or that post-Soviet state. Besides, three decades after their formation the new sovereign Eurasian states having endured complex processes of national state building began to differ substantially from each other by their political systems, by levels of economic development and above all – by their strategic goals, aspirations and orientations. And in its turn this has caused serious changes in their approaches to building relations with their external partners, both in bilateral and multilateral formats. Under these conditions the most important national priority of Russia is to implement such a foreign policy at the post-Soviet space that would react timely and most flexibly at social, political and economic processes going on there and emphasizing that most important goal of such a policy is neither a political expansion or an institution of a great power hegemony but development of partnership and friendly relations with the post-Soviet states on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.

Conceptual problems of the development of interdisciplinary research in the field of international economic relations

In the context of the current Ukrainian realities, given its place, the significance and role in the geo-economic space from the standpoint of economic security the issue of high-quality provision of research in the area of international economic relations and, consequently, training of scientists and researchers in this field is acute. The article discusses the prerequisites and substantiates the need to find a mechanism for improving teaching methods, enhancing the effectiveness of forms and methods of teaching and research based on an interdisciplinary approach, search and development of new theories. The step-by-step algorithm of training / formation of scientists, characteristic features of the current stage of scientific research, communication and cooperation environment, specifics of training doctors of philosophy on the basis of competence approach is analyzed as well as the problems of terminological casuistry, quality of scientific publications, search for topical themes aimed at addressing a number of issues related to increasing the competitiveness of Ukrainian science in the area of international economic relations with a practical focus on strengthening Ukraine's position on the current geoeconomic chessboard. The purpose of the article is to study the prerequisites for reconfiguring the format of scientific research, enriching the research methodology, filling it with interdisciplinary tools.