Strategic Partnership in the Shadow of History

The article analyses selected problems in the implementation of the Polish-Ukrainian strategic partnership assumptions. The aspects of bilateral relations that undoubtedly made it difficult to engage in a constructive dialogue in the 21st century, were outlined. It was also pointed out that the implementation of foreign policy assumptions in both countries is often the result of a historical politics and a mythologized image of a neighbouring country. In addition, putting the historical discourse over political, economic and social took part in the events. Kwaśniewski recalled then “the bravery and merits of those soldiers problems may result in lowering the standards of democracy, and the expectation from the other side to accept a specific vision of the past may indicate that politicians are focused on domestic politics at the expense of the country’s position on the international arena.

The impact of public health interventions in the Nordic countries during the first year of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and evolution

Background Many countries have attempted to mitigate and control COVID-19 through non-pharmaceutical interventions, particularly with the aim of reducing population movement and contact. However, it remains unclear how the different control strategies impacted the local phylodynamics of the causative SARS-CoV-2 virus. Aim We aimed to assess the duration of chains of virus transmission within individual countries and the extent to which countries exported viruses to their geographical neighbours. Methods We analysed complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes to infer the relative frequencies of virus importation and exportation, as well as virus transmission dynamics, in countries of northern Europe. We examined virus evolution and phylodynamics in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results The Nordic countries differed markedly in the invasiveness of control strategies, which we found reflected in transmission chain dynamics. For example, Sweden, which compared with the other Nordic countries relied more on recommendation-based rather than legislation-based mitigation interventions, had transmission chains that were more numerous and tended to have more cases. This trend increased over the first 8 months of 2020. Together with Denmark, Sweden was a net exporter of SARS-CoV-2. Norway and Finland implemented legislation-based interventions; their transmission chain dynamics were in stark contrast to their neighbouring country Sweden. Conclusion Sweden constituted an epidemiological and evolutionary refugium that enabled the virus to maintain active transmission and spread to other geographical locations. Our analysis reveals the utility of genomic surveillance where monitoring of active transmission chains is a key metric.

Inequalities in access to cross-border resources? An analysis based on spatio-temporal behaviours in the cross-border area of Greater Geneva

With an activity-based approach, this article offers a new reading of cross-border integration by exploring the social and spatial conditions that predispose specific populations of Greater Geneva to cross its borders. Five different daily cross-border patterns were identified showing that travelling to the neighbouring country is still uncommon among the least qualified populations and women, and that this trend now extends beyond the mere cross-border labour market. Logistic regressions show that Greater Geneva is witnessing a functionalisation of its cross-border integration, revealing mechanisms where the increase of particular mobility may foster segregation and inequalities. This article argues for an approach where cross-border integration is not an objective but rather is a consequence of obligations and constraints that individuals face in their daily behaviours.

Diagnostic challenges and pockets of susceptibility identified during a measles outbreak, Luxembourg, 2019

Luxembourg was among the first countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region documenting interruption of endemic measles transmission, but an increased incidence was registered in spring 2019. The outbreak started with an unvaccinated student who had been to a winter sports resort in a neighbouring country, where a measles outbreak was ongoing. Subsequently, 12 secondary and two tertiary cases were confirmed among students from the same school, relatives and healthcare workers, as well as six probably unrelated cases. Only 11 cases initially fulfilled the WHO definition for suspected measles cases. Fourteen of 20 cases with information on country of birth and the majority of unvaccinated cases (10/12) were born outside of Luxembourg. Measles IgM antibody results were available for 16 of the confirmed cases, and five of the eight IgM negative cases had been vaccinated at least once. All 21 cases were PCR positive, but for three previously vaccinated cases with multiple specimen types, at least one of these samples was negative. The outbreak highlighted diagnostic challenges from clinical and laboratory perspectives in a measles elimination setting and showed that people born abroad and commuters may represent important pockets of susceptible people in Luxembourg.

Central Asia: Involvement Of Afghanistan In Regional Development Processes

The article observes the contemporary processes of forming a system of good neighbourly relations in Central Asia with the participation of Afghanistan and increasing the potential for regional development. The article maintains peace in Afghanistan is not only an important factor for sustainable development in the region but also an opportunity to intensify trade and economic cooperation with European countries in Asia to ensure the integration of transit and transport opportunities. It is noted that Uzbekistan supports the further intensification of multifaceted cooperation with Afghanistan and the prompt establishment of peace and stability in the neighbouring country, the restoration of its economic and transport infrastructure.

Lateral Recruitment in Civil Services: Standing the Test of Merit

Keeping bureaucracy, the permanent executive, insulated from the influence of the political executive has always been the focus of administrative reforms. A transparent and fair system of recruitment based on meritocracy is a key to shield administrators from political influence. This article analyses the essential conditions required for the successful implementation of lateral recruitment in India. It contends that merit, involving transparent and fair processes in recruitment, is the bedrock of any efficient bureaucratic system. The article does not probe deeper into the question as to whether the lateral entry should be introduced or not, but assuming the lateral entry is a desirable practice for modern civil administration, it discusses the conditions that lead to its success or failure. It draws lessons for India from an exercise that already took place in its neighbouring country, Pakistan.

Media framing of the Macedonia name change issue: The use of fear-inducing language strategies

It is considered a huge socio-political step for a country to change its name, especially under pressure imposed by another country. In January 2019, Macedonia officially became the Republic of North Macedonia after a three-decade long dispute with its neighbouring country Greece. Macedonian citizens have long suffered the consequences of this dispute and have often expressed their dissatisfaction on the social media. However, the media played a crucial role in shaping their opinions regarding this situation. This paper attempts to present how pro- and anti-government oriented media sources framed the issue and influenced the citizens’ perceptions of it. More precisely, it conducts a critical discourse analysis of 30 online newspaper articles, written during three specific periods on a timeline from January 2018 to February 2019, before, during and after the name change. The analysis sets out to identify lexical, pragmatic and discursive devices acting as potential fear triggers through which threat frames are being constructed. The results showed that both pro- and anti- government media sources appeal mostly to people’s emotions by generating fear related to a hypothetical future – in the case of the former it instigated fear of what might happen with the future of the country provided the name was not changed, while in the case of the latter, if the name was changed.

PUSH AND PULL FACTORS INFLUENCING THAI IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN MALAYSIA

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the push and pull factors that influence Thai immigrant entrepreneurs (TIEs) to conduct a business in Malaysia. As a neighbouring country, Malaysia is one of the favourite migration destinations for TIEs, with an influx of them involved in restaurant businesses across the country. This phenomenon offers this study with an unconventional background for immigrant entrepreneurship as it occurs within the context of developing, non-Western countries. Methodology: Outlined by previous studies on push and pull factors of immigration and immigrant entrepreneurship, this research employed a qualitative approach focusing on the experiences of six TIEs operating Thai/Siamese restaurants in Bandar Baru Bangi, a town located approximately 30 km south of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Data were collected mainly through face-to-face interviews among owners of restaurants in their premises, which ensures richness in the data. Findings: The findings indicated several categories of business-based emigration factors for TIEs to Malaysia, spanning from economic, political, and social factors. Contributions: Overall, the present research extends the knowledge of immigrant entrepreneurship especially within the non-Western context. Practice-wise, this study provides implications for policymakers in relation to business activities conducted by migrants in neighbouring countries, which are useful for both Malaysia and Thailand as the host and the origin country respectively. Keywords: Thai immigrant entrepreneurs, Thailand, Malaysia, restaurant business, push and pull factors. Cite as: Yanai, L., Che Senik, Z., Muhamad, N. S., Abd Hamid, H., & Jamaludin, N. A. (2020). Push and pull factors influencing Thai immigrant entrepreneurs conducting business in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 5(2), 19-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol5iss2pp19-47

Los principios pedagógicos de los clérigos de San Viator y su implantación en el panorama escolar asturiano (1912-1941)

The presence in Spain of the French congregations devoted to education comes determined by the political events that took place during the III Republic in the neighbouring country starting at the end of 19th century. Like many others, , clergymen from San Viator, a congregation founded by the French priest Luis Querbes and devoted to education since 1851, arrived in Spain in 1903 with the aim of finding refuge and continuing their educational work. After settling at a first stage in the city of Vitoria (Basque Country, Spain), they soon developed a program of foundations in the nearby surroundings which culminated with their establishment of a centre in Asturias (north-central Spain). With the approval of the diocese and the parish, they opened their first school in 1912, in the Asturian village of Cangas de Onís, which was soon followed by other twin foundations in Ribadesella and Infiesto. Our article undertakes to review their presence in the area - largely ignored today in the school scene of our region - by analysing those pedagogic principles which inspired their dedication to the school, their educational offer and their capacity for innovating and adapting to the interests of an industrial society aspiring to secure a top-class education for their pupils. For this commitment they used, among other things the regional press as an advertising resource that was able to guarantee them the prestige attained in the region along their educational journey.

A surrogate FRAX model for the Kyrgyz Republic

Summary The hip fracture rates from Kazakhstan were used to create a surrogate FRAX® model for the Kyrgyz Republic. Introduction The International Society for Clinical Densitometry and International Osteoporosis Foundation recommend utilizing a surrogate FRAX model, based on the country-specific risk of death, and fracture data based on a country where fracture rates are considered to be representative of the index country. Objective This paper describes a surrogate FRAX model for the Kyrgyz Republic. Methods The FRAX model used the incidence of hip fracture from the neighbouring country of Kazakhstan and the death risk for the Kyrgyz Republic. Results Compared with the model for Kazakhstan, the surrogate model gave somewhat higher 10-year fracture probabilities for men between 60 and 80 years of age and lower probabilities for men above the age of 80. For women the probabilities were similar up to the age of 75–80 years and then lower. There were very close correlations in fracture probabilities between the surrogate and authentic models (1.00) so that the use of the Kyrgyz model had little impact on the rank order of risk. It was estimated that 2752 hip fractures arose in 2015 in individuals over the age of 50 years in the Kyrgyz Republic, with a predicted increase by 207% to 8435 in 2050. Conclusion The surrogate FRAX model for the Kyrgyz Republic provides the opportunity to determine fracture probability among the Kyrgyz population and help guide decisions about treatment.