Changing US attitudes to federalism prioritise states

Significance Once considered the means by which US states could act as ‘laboratories of democracy’ that find new ways to improve governance, the recent construction of federalism as prioritising state autonomy is producing unevenness in democratic practices that is affecting the established rights of individuals. Impacts The erosion of common standards in states’ electoral procedures will further reduce overall trust in the democratic process. Political divisions between state and federal governments will increase during the remainder of the Biden presidency. Emphasising splits with Washington on civil rights issues camouflages state-level economic changes which will also impact voters. Aided by interest groups, states are drafting appeal-proof laws which reduce the ability of courts to enforce national standards.

Psychological aspects of overcoming conflict situations by police officers in the conditions of mass events

The geopolitical, socio-cultural, economic changes that have burst into society in connection with the pandemic are the impetus for the development of extremist manifestations and the terrorist threat, which determines and emphasizes the relevance and vital need for a deeper study and improvement of psychological support and psychological training of police officers in places of mass activities. The article examines the features of conflict situations that arise among police officers in the activity of protecting public order during mass events. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the experience of the police in Lower Saxony (FRG) and the current police officers in Russia. Thus, a survey of police officers (85 senior officers) enrolled in refresher courses in 2018-2019 revealed the main positive examples of successful actions: work with leaders (instigators of mass riots), including their operational isolation (40% respondents); coordinated work of all forces and means involved in the protection of public order, at the same time, timely and reliable information to the head of the operational headquarters (40% of respondents); tightening the access control and cutting the crowd into sectors (50% of the respondents), etc. In the conclusion, the main tasks are outlined, by which police officers will be able to minimize conflict situations in special conditions.

Raising Children in the Context of Rapid Social Change: Parenting Self-Efficacy of South Korean Mothers

Given recent sociocultural and economic changes that have created significant pressures on South Korean mothers, we were interested in understanding the factors that might contribute to their sense of competence in taking on the challenges of childrearing. We examined several family conditions theoretically supportive of mothers’ parenting self-efficacy (PSE), specifically whether mothers’ PSE was associated with their marital satisfaction and with their children’s competence (social and academic). We then examined whether PSE was related to life stress, as well as whether life stress moderated the relationship of PSE to the proximal marital and child variables. Participants included 234 South Korean mothers of pre-primary-aged children. Mothers completed a survey reporting on PSE, life stress, and marital satisfaction. Teachers provided ratings of children’s competence. Regression analyses indicated that mothers who experienced lower life stress reported higher PSE after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Neither marital satisfaction nor child competence was associated with PSE. A second set of regressions tested the same set of predictors, in addition to the interactions of life stress with marital satisfaction and of life stress with child competence. Results indicated that for mothers reporting lower life stress, greater marital satisfaction was associated with higher PSE. Unexpectedly, for mothers experiencing higher life stress, lower marital satisfaction was associated with higher PSE. These findings support theoretical formulations linking PSE with marital support and life stress, while suggesting a need to further investigate the association among these factors in a variety of situational contexts, particularly those that are appraised as stressful.

The Dissolution of the Soviet Union

In late December 1991—some 74 years after the Bolsheviks had taken power in Russia under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin—the Soviet Communist regime and the Soviet state itself ceased to exist. The demise of the Soviet Union occurred less than seven years after Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Communist Party. Soon after taking office in March 1985, Gorbachev had launched a series of drastic political and economic changes that he hoped would improve and strengthen the Communist system and bolster the country's superpower status. But in the end, far from strengthening Communism, Gorbachev's policies of perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (official openness) led inadvertently to the collapse of the Soviet regime and the unraveling of the Soviet state. This article analyzes the breakup of the Soviet Union, explaining why that outcome, which had seemed so unlikely at the outset, occurred in such a short period of time.

Digital challenges in the economy and their impact on regional development

Introduction. Digital transformations that have occurred in socio-economic development of entire society have been proven, so that direct consumers of digital products and services are population gaining access to the Internet, certain applications, programs and databases that help to improve the quality of life, make it more comfortable in conditions of turbulent development and quarantine restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Development of digital opportunities has emphasized importance of supporting this area from regulatory and legislative framework, in particular its improvement and regulation, which will be reflected in improving population’s well-being and regional development. Aim and tasks. The aim of the article is devoted to consideration of theoretical and practical foundations of ongoing changes in the economy of territorial economic systems under the influence of rapid spread of innovative technologies, in particular digital transformations and digital challenges, their impact on regional development. Results. In the given article we have considered approaches and individual directions concerning certain changes in socio-economic direction of society’s development under the influence of digital transformations. The factors and indicators influencing region’s level of assessment of digital capabilities are indicated. A possible scenario for transformation of digital economy is given, taking into account forms of involvement in digitalization process contributing to the development of digital network and business, formation of new approaches to sustainable strategic development of the regional economy. The role of investment component in promoting and developing digital opportunities, which are reflected in population’s social well-being, has been proven. It has been established that the digital development of society is formed under the influence of the relationship between government and business, the use of the latest information technologies. Conclusions. The widespread dissemination and implementation of digital opportunities is the key to sustainable development of the region, which affects the improvement of business, interaction with the authorities and the growth of the population's well-being. Expanding access to the Internet, levelling user opportunities will accelerate implementation of digital economy and achievement of positive socio-economic changes. It is digitalization of the economy and society that is the main tool for development. A systematic approach to the usage of digital technologies will act as a stimulating factor in the development of society and economy at different levels: national, regional (territorial) and local. In addition, the systematic usage of digital technologies has an impact on raising the level and improving population’s living conditions.

EU STRATEGIC INTERESTS IN KAZAKHSTAN IN THE CONTEXT OF GEOPOLITICAL AND GEO-ECONOMIC CHANGES IN THE REGION WITH FOCUS ON CHINA

Kazakhstan has an important position as the EU´s main trading partner in Central Asia and the EU has been its largest trade partner as well as the largest source of foreign direct investment. The importance of China as trade and investment partner is rising, on the contrary, the EU’s share is declining. Even though there remains plenty of scope for further growth, mutual relations and cooperation are influenced by increased geopolitical tensions and geo-economic changes in the wider region. The paper evaluates the position of the EU and its strategic interests in Kazakhstan in the context of geopolitical and geo-economic changes in the region based on the assessment of the trade and investment position of the EU in comparison with the position of China.

Commuting in Almaty agglomeration: an analysis of pilot survey results

Commuting is a process that occurs frequently, usually in bigger cities and agglomerations. People living in the periphery tend to travel to work that is located in the center of agglomeration. The choice to commute can vary among the population, and that is explained by internal and external factors such as the economic and financial situation of people, labor market, etc. Even though a routine activity is a central concept of commuting, it takes place in different forms and ways and is impacted by various sociodemographic, economic, and spatial aspects. Hence, it is these social and economic changes in commuting tendencies, characters, and behaviors that this study aims to classify, analyze, and comprehend. Almaty is one of the most populated cities in Kazakhstan. Due to the urbanization processes and urban development, the city captures new territories and becomes an agglomeration. This leads to increased daily human mobility. People living in the periphery of the agglomeration, but working in downtown, travel to their workplace. Therefore, they conduct commuting. Studying commuting is important for the city’s development. The purpose of this article is to identify the characteristics of pendulum migration based on the analysis of the results of a pilot survey conducted in the Almaty region. The methods of descriptive statistics are used for the analysis of the survey results.

Commodities trade, river transport and colonialism: The Brahmaputra river valley in the nineteenth century

The article seeks to show how Assam’s riverine environment, and its natural resources, generated and inflected a process of commercialisation in the nineteenth century. Historically, present-day Assam was connected to the rest of the world through the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries. In the early decades of colonial rule, plants such as caoutchouc and tea were discovered in the valley. These developments, together with transportation networks built with state and private capital, heralded a new phase of commerce in the region. A rich scholarship in South Asian history has shown how the river played a crucial role in the economic changes in different regions. The article belongs in that scholarship but stresses the role of the river as an artery of transportation rather than as an agricultural resource. The river system facilitated Assam’s closer integration with the world economy and the colonial regime.

Social Provision of Disabled People in Welfare States: the Scope of Social Benefits and Anti-Crisis Regulation. Part 2

The article consists of two separate publications (Part 1 and Part 2) and analyses social security policy towards people with disability at working age in developed welfare states (social-democratic, conservative-corporatist and neoliberal regimes). Part 2 analyses reform strategies of state assistance programmes for disabled people on the basis of international research as well as statistical data of the EU and OECD for the past 30 years, while considering the changes in the economic climate. The article attends for the funding: expenditures for the programmes (as percentage of GDP and per capita) during periods of economic growth, the 2008–2009 crisis and the following decade. The connection between cyclic economic changes and the number of people with disability is considered. The author examines the combination of approaches to anticrisis management and the dynamics of public spending on programmes for people with disabilities as well as on alternative support schemes and social security in general. The author analyses the level of social protection of people with disability: poverty and inequality data based on research data and self-administered health condition evaluation. The article discusses the factors which mitigate the negative effects of the reforms, contribute to the reduction of social tension or, on the contrary, decrease social security in the long-term perspective.