SET50 Index Futures contract is the first and most actively traded equity index futures contract on the Thailand Futures Exchange. However, futures trading is risky and requires that investors understand factors affecting risk. Therefore, this study uses monthly data from May 2014 to December 2024 for identifying the determinants of SET50 Index Futures contract’s risk, quantified by Value at Risk (VaR). To calculate VaR of SET50 Index Futures, this study employs parametric method using EGARCH model for estimating volatility. Factors, including macroeconomic factors, futures trading activity, and underlying SET50 Index factors, are included as independent variables in a regression model. Using ordinary least squares approach, the results show that inflation rate and rate of change in exchange rate are the only macroeconomic factors affecting SET50 Index Futures contract’s VaR. In addition, volume and open interest of SET50 Index Futures as well as liquidity and past volatility of its underlying asset affect VaR. Therefore, investors and related agencies should track inflation rate and exchange rate since they are crucial factors affecting risk for SET50 Index Futures. Understanding the determinants of risk for SET50 Index Futures contract allows for better risk assessment, informed trading strategies, and more successful participation in the futures market.
In a market-based society, the logistics sector encompasses a vast scope and serves as a vital industry that reaches every participant in economic activities and services. By studying the current capacity of the Republic of Türkiye’s transportation and logistics sector - one of Mongolia’s third neighbor countries - and its collaborative experiences with nations bordering Mongolia, valuable knowledge and information can be acquired to elevate bilateral trade and economic relations to a new level. Furthermore, based on this information, joint research and detailed technical and economic feasibility studies should be carried out which would not only positively impact trade and economic relations between the two countries, but also create broad opportunities for improving infrastructure, employment, and socio-economic development in Mongolia’s border provinces and districts. In the first section of the article, key terminology and concepts related to Türkiye`s logistics sector are briefly introduced, along with the requirements for establishing logistics centers. It also outlines the coordination and cooperation among sectors such as customs, postal services, and transportation, as well as the relevant regulations and procedures. The next section aims to analyze, under separate subtopics, the major logistics mega-projects currently being implemented or planned in Türkiye, including their progress, challenges, and lessons learned. The conclusion summarizes Türkiye`s goal of establishing logistics centers abroad, its core trade policy focused on Asian economies, and the potential conditions and obstacles for establishing a logistics center in Mongolia with Türkiye`s support and experience. Турк Улсын логистикийн салбарын хөгжил, холбогдох туршлагыг Монгол Улсад нэвтрүүлэх боломж Хураангуй: Зах зээлийн нийгэмд логистикийн салбар нь маш өргөн цар хүрээг хамарч, эдийн засгийн салбар, үйлчилгээ, оролцогч хэн бүхэнд хүрч үйлчилдэг амин чухал салбар болжээ. Тэр дундаа сүүлийн жилүүдэд цахим худалдааны зах зээл өргөжиж, нүүр тулахгүйгээр эдийн засгийн харилцаанд орох байдал улам бүр идэвхжиж байгаа нь тээвэр, логистикийн ухаалаг шийдэл, технологийн хэрэгцээ улам бүр өсөн нэмэгдэж буйг харуулж байгаа юм. Монгол Улсын гуравдагч хөрш орнуудын нэг Бүгд Найрамдах Турк Улсын тээвэр, логистикийн салбарын өнөөгийн хүчин чадал, Монгол Улстай хил залгаа орнуудтай тус салбарт хамтран ажиллаж буй туршлагыг судалснаар хоёр орны худалдаа, эдийн засгийн салбарын харилцаа, хамтын ажиллагааг шинэ шатанд гаргахад шаардлагатай мэдлэг, мэдээлэл бий болох юм. Цаашлаад эдгээр мэдээлэлд тулгуурлан хоёр талын хамтарсан судалгаа, нарийвчилсан техник, эдийн засгийн үндэслэл боловсруулж, бодит ажил хэрэг болгож чадвал зөвхөн хоёр талын худалдаа, эдийн засгийн харилцаанд эерэг нөлөө үзүүлээд зогсохгүй, Монгол орны хил орчмын аймаг, сумдын хөгжил, ажил эрхлэлт, нийгэм, эдийн засгийн салбарын дэд бүтэц сайжрах өргөн боломж бүрдэх юм. Өгүүллийн эхний хэсэгт Турк Улсын логистикийн салбартай холбогдох нэр томьёо, ойлголт, логистик төв байгуулахад шаардлагатай, гааль, шуудан, тээвэр зэрэг салбар хоорондын уялдаа, хамтын ажиллагааг зохицуулсан дүрэм, журам стандартын талаар товч танилцуулав. Дараагийн хэсэгт Турк Улсад хэрэгжүүлж буй болон хэрэгжүүлэхээр зорьж буй логистикийн мега төслүүд, ахиц дэвшил, тулгарч буй бэрхшээл, сургамжийн талаар дэд сэдэв тус бүрээр дүн шинжилгээ хийхийг зорив. Турк Улсын гадаад улс орнуудад логистикийн төв байгуулах зорилт, тус улсын Азид чиглэсэн худалдааны бодлогын цөм, Монгол улсад Турк Улсын дэмжлэг, туршлагад суурилан логистикийн төв байгуулах боломж, нөхцөл, тулгарч буй саад, бэрхшээл зэргийг төгсгөл буюу дүгнэлт хэсэгт хураангуйлан оруулав. Түлхүүр үгс: тээвэр логистикийн салбар, Монгол - Туркийн худалдаа, эдийн засгийн харилцаа, Шинэ Ази санаачилга, Дунд коридорын төсөл
The transition towards low-carbon, digitalised energy systems has heightened the importance of understanding how institutional environments shape entrepreneurial activity and investment in the energy sector. This study aims to assess the role of economic freedom and its subcomponents in shaping cross-country differences in the creation and financing of green and digital energy start-ups, with a focus on non-linear institutional effects and stage-specific investment dynamics. The analysis is based on a cross-country panel dataset combining start-up and funding data from the International Energy Agency with institutional indicators from the Fraser Institute, using two-way fixed effects models with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors and quadratic specifications. The results show that economic freedom has a weak, mostly negative effect on start-up formation, with coefficients of approximately −0.157 for green start-ups and −0.185 for digital start-ups. In contrast, its impact on financing is strong and consistently negative, with coefficients ranging from −5.2 to −5.6 across early- and later-stage funding models. Significant non-linear effects are identified for later-stage digital funding, with an inverted U-shaped relationship, a turning point of approximately 5.35. Subindex results indicate that trade freedom and sound money drive negative effects, while legal institutions exhibit threshold effects at approximately 7.6–8.6.
The growing digitalisation of public administration and the increasing number of countries affected by armed conflicts raise important questions about the role of e-government in sustaining government revenue mobilisation under institutional stress. This study examines how the development of digital government influences different sources of public revenue and whether armed conflict moderates this relationship across countries. The analysis uses cross-country panel data for 2003–2024, combining indicators of e-government development from the UN EGDI database, fiscal indicators from the World Bank Open Data, and conflict information from the UCDP/PRIO Armed Conflict Dataset, estimated using two-way fixed effects models with robust clustered standard errors. The results show that economic development is the strongest determinant of revenue mobilisation, with GDP per capita coefficients ranging from 0.95 to 1.22 across models. The overall EGDI does not demonstrate a statistically significant direct effect on tax revenue or revenue excluding grants, although weak interaction effects suggest that armed conflict may reduce the fiscal effectiveness of digital governance (−0.238; p ≈ 0.10). A significant negative relationship is observed for the telecommunications infrastructure component with tax revenue (−0.362; p = 0.005) and revenue excluding grants (−0.349; p = 0.011). For customs duties and social contributions, the results indicate no systematic relationship between e-government development and revenue performance, highlighting the dominant role of macroeconomic conditions in shaping fiscal capacity.
The rapid development of the economy impacts environmental degradation, where climate change is the major issue. Despite all efforts of international organisations, governments, businesses, and ordinary citizens, the problem cannot be successfully managed. The main objective of the study was to test the relationship between CO₂ and economic growth and two other indicators. In addition, the share of renewable energy and energy efficiency level indicators was included to testing environmental investments in the energy sector. The study used a sample of 23 EU member states over the period 2009-2023. Data were obtained from Eurostat and normalised using the mean-standardisation approach. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationships among the selected variables. The regression analysis confirmed that GDP and renewable energy consumption had positive effects on CO₂ emissions, whereas energy intensity had no statistically significant effect. To more deeply reveal regional structural development tendencies, the chosen sample was categorized into three groups using K-means clustering. Despite efforts to delink economic growth from CO₂ emissions, the findings indicate that this objective has not yet been achieved. The study emphasised the need for stronger political commitment and more effective strategies to achieve meaningful progress in the emission-growth delinking process. The analysis covered a specific period and the ceteris paribus assumption may not hold fully due to the presence of other factors. Further examination of additional explanatory factors may also provide new insights and policy implications.
The objective of the article is to identify the relationship between corporate sustainability performance and the amount of dividend payout. The research hypothesis is that improvements in the economic, environmental, social and governance scores lead to higher dividend payments. The corporate sustainability scores are used as the primary variables in the panel regression model. The analysis is conducted for the period of 2012-2023 and the sample comprises the largest companies from the Fortune Global 500 as of 2022. Over the twelve-year research period, the overall ESG score has demonstrated a positive and statistically significant impact on the dividend payout. However, the decomposition of this aggregate score revealed that only the corporate sustainability scores in the environmental and social pillars remained positive and statistically significant. Furthermore, corporate sustainability performance stopped being statistically significant when the economic sustainability score was incorporated into the models for the seven-year research period.
This article examines how nationalism, religious values, and geopolitical calculation intersect in Mongolia’s socio-political relations through the lens of rational egoism. The paper combines discourse analysis, comparative theoretical interpretation, and descriptive re-analysis of secondary survey and interview data produced between 2017 and 2026. It operationalizes rational egoism through proxy indicators such as nationalism, leadership criteria, religious affiliation, institutional trust, and political participation patterns. The findings suggest that national identity functions as a collective form of rational egoism through the logic of the “extended self”; religion, especially Buddhism, works less as a demand for theocratic politics than as a source of moral-cultural capital reducing distrust and social transaction costs; and Mongolia’s third-neighbour policy and sovereignty concerns reveal rational egoism at the level of state strategy. Reported correlation patterns indicate a medium-level relationship between political-religious and geopolitical risk perceptions. The article concludes that Mongolia is moving from short-term primitive egoism toward long-term, responsibility-oriented rational egoism. Геополитик, үндэсний ашиг сонирхол ба шашны үнэт зүйлс: Монголын нийгэм-улс төрийн харилцааг рационал эгоизмын үүднээс шинжлэх нь Хураангуй: Энэхүү өгүүлэл нь рационал эгоизмын онолын хүрээнд Монголын нийгэм-улс төрийн харилцаанд үндэсний үзэл, шашны үнэт зүйлс, геополитикийн тооцоолол хэрхэн огтлолцож байгааг шинжилнэ. Судалгааны зорилго нь нэг талаас рационал эгоизм Монголын кейсийг тайлбарлах чадавхтай эсэхийг шалгах, нөгөө талаас иргэдийн улс төрийн сонголт, хошуучлалын шалгуур, шашин-үндэсний ижилслийн уялдааг эмпирик баримтад тулгуурлан тайлбарлахад оршино. Судалгаа нь дискурсив шинжилгээ, онолын харьцуулсан задлал, хоёрдогч өгөгдөлд тулгуурласан тайлбарлах статистикийг хослуулсан холимог арга зүй ашиглав. 2017-2019, 2022-2024, 2024-2026 оны суурь судалгаануудын санал асуулга, фокус бүлгийн ярилцлага, шинжээчийн ярилцлагын үр дүнг дахин боловсруулж ашигласан бөгөөд хэмжилтийн түвшинд үндэсний үзэл, шашны хамаарал, улс төрийн хошуучлалын шалгуур, институцийн итгэл, оролцооны хэв маягийг индикатор болгон авч үзэв. Үр дүнгээс харахад үндэсний ижилсэл нь улс төрийн сонголтын хүчтэй шалгуур бөгөөд “өргөтгөсөн би” гэсэн ойлголтоор тайлбарлагдах хамтын рационал эгоизмын илрэл болж байна. Шашин, ялангуяа буддын шашин нь төр-шашны институцийн нэгдлийг бус, харин ёс суртахууны хяналт, нийгмийн итгэлцэл, хамтын амьдралын өртгийг бууруулах “ёс суртахууны соёлын капитал”-ын үүрэг гүйцэтгэж байна. Геополитикийн түвшинд гуравдагч хөршийн бодлого, тусгаар тогтнолын асуудал, баялгийн менежмент нь жижиг улсын рационал эгоизмын стратегийн хэлбэр болж байна. Корреляцийн тайлбарын түвшинд улс төр-шашин болон геополитикийн эрсдэлт нөхцөл байдлын хооронд дунд түвшний уялдаа ажиглагдах ба энэ нь иргэд ёс суртахууны найдвартай байдал, үндэсний аюулгүй байдлыг хамтад нь үнэлж байгааг харуулна. Иймээс Монголын улс төрийн төлөвшил нь примитив эгоизмаас урт хугацааны хариуцлагатай рационал эгоизм руу шилжих завсрын үе шатандаа байна гэсэн дүгнэлтийг дэвшүүлэв. Түлхүүр үгс: рационал эгоизм, Монголын нийгэм, үндэсний үзэл, шашны үэжт зүйлс, нийгжм-улс төрийн харилцаа, улс төрийн нам, цахим ардчилал, шийдвэр гаргалт
The article analyses the determinants of willingness to share knowledge in local government administration, focusing primarily on the relational and organisational conditions of this process. The starting point is the assumption that the effectiveness of public organisations depends not only on formal structures and procedures, but above all on the quality of relationships and the conditions conducive to knowledge sharing. The study aimed to determine the importance of a climate of trust and psychological safety, as well as formal organisational support, for employees’ declarative willingness to share knowledge. A quantitative study was conducted among employees of local government units located in southern Poland. The results indicate that a climate of trust and psychological safety plays a key role in shaping attitudes conducive to knowledge sharing, while formal support mechanisms are of secondary importance. At the same time, a declarative acceptance of knowledge sharing does not directly translate into employees’ actual attitudes towards this process. The article emphasises the relational nature of knowledge management processes in the public sector and highlights the limited effectiveness of measures based solely on formal instruments
The aim of this paper is to verify the effect of moon phases (lunar effect) on the main indices of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) in 2020-2024. In these years was possible to indicate periods of increased market volatility. It provides the basis for undertaking considerations on the possibility for observing existing dependencies on the global stock markets. Using the quotations of four main WSE indices (WIG, WIG20, mWIG40, sWIG80), daily logarithmic returns were calculated in two event windows: one-day (t0), and three-day, covering one session day before and one after a specific moon phase (t-1-t+1). Based on 39 qualified new and full moons, medians of the returns differing significantly from zero were observed on the day of the new moon for all the analysed WSE indices. Moreover, the values of returns were average higher than zero on days adjacent to the new moon. However, no statistical significance was found for the median value of the returns on full moon days (except in one case, sWIG80). It is worth underlining that this research is one of the first attempts to verify the effect of moon phases in the current era of increased volatility of financial instruments on world markets in relation to the financial instrument listed on the WSE.
Corporate image is increasingly recognized as a critical factor influencing employee stability, particularly within the dynamic business environment of the Czech Republic. This study investigates the relationship between organizational image and employee stability, focusing on key aspects such as employee training, benefits, and workplace safety. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire distributed to 442 key managerial personnel across various enterprise sizes and sectors, using the CAWI methodology. Responses were measured on a five-point Likert scale, and linear regression modelling was employed to analyze the causal impact of corporate image on employee stability. The findings reveal a statistically significant and positive effect of organizational image on employee stability, with the strongest associations observed in areas related to employee education and benefits. These results underscore the importance of cultivating a positive corporate image as a strategic tool for enhancing employee retention and satisfaction. The study contributes to the broader understanding of human resource management and corporate social responsibility in Central Europe, providing practical implications for managers seeking to strengthen workforce stability through image-building initiatives.
The green transition has increasingly been conceptualised as a process of structural transformation encompassing energy systems, innovation capacity, carbon performance, and institutional governance. However, whether this transformation leads to convergence across countries or reinforces persistent structural divergence remains an open empirical question. This study examines convergence dynamics within the European green transition by analysing a balanced panel of 27 European Union member states and Ukraine over the period 2004–2023. The analysis applies complementary σ-convergence indicators and β-convergence regressions, including pooled, fixed-effects, and time-effects specifications, to distinguish between cross-country structural disparities and within-country adjustment dynamics. The results reveal asymmetric convergence patterns across transition dimensions. Renewable energy penetration and research and development intensity exhibit statistically significant convergence, reflecting coordinated policy frameworks and technological diffusion. In contrast, carbon emissions remain highly heterogeneous at the cross-country level, while institutional governance quality displays divergence in pooled specifications and only conditional convergence once country-specific effects are controlled for. Time-effects estimations further indicate that major systemic shocks, such as the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, have significantly shaped convergence trajectories. The findings demonstrate that the green transition in EU unfolds as an institutionally mediated structural transformation, in which technological and innovation dimensions converge more rapidly than emissions and governance. This underscores the need for differentiated policy instruments and strengthened governance architectures to support balanced and resilient green transition pathways.
In the face of growing ecological, social, and economic crises, it is becoming increasingly important for countries and regions to consider future economic growth or prosperity and assess the potential damage of shocks and strengthen resilience. Most studies examine macroeconomic traits of resilience; hence, resilience manifests itself at the local level and depends on the local community's socio-economic resources and capacities to overcome the challenge. The concept of resilience has been shaped in the discourse of environmental crises, and there is a lack of models and empirical examples examining socio-economic community resilience. The article discusses the concept of community resilience. It presents the results of applying the BRIC (Baseline resilience indicator for communities) method to the socio-economic resilience of Lithuanian municipalities.
This article analyses energy poverty from a regional perspective, focusing on NUTS 2 regions of Italy, Lithuania and Poland. It proposes a joint taxonomy of territorial profiles that combines a direct indicator of energy deprivation with macro-level socio-economic variables capturing affordability, social vulnerability, human capital, labour-market conditions and the dynamics of the productive structure. Using hierarchical cluster analysis and cartographic representation, the study identifies four regional profiles of energy deprivation and socio-economic context and assesses whether they primarily reflect within-country territorial gradients or cross-border similarities. The resulting taxonomy is largely country-structured, with limited cross-border overlap. High deprivation emerges in two distinct configurations: one associated with broader income and labour-market fragilities and one persisting despite comparatively favourable socio-economic fundamentals, pointing to the potential relevance of needs and system factors. The proposed taxonomy provides a concise tool to jointly interpret energy deprivation and socio-economic conditions at the NUTS 2 level and to inform place-sensitive policy interventions.
This study investigates the relationship between energy prices and inflation dynamics in European economies using monthly data for the period 2012–2026. The analysis focuses on the impact of Brent crude oil prices and Henry Hub natural gas prices on inflation measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). The empirical framework employs autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and nonlinear ARDL models to capture both symmetric and asymmetric effects of energy price shocks. The results indicate that oil price increases exert a significant and persistent impact on inflation, while gas prices show weaker short-run effects. The nonlinear specification reveals asymmetric transmission, with inflation responding more strongly to oil price increases than decreases. The findings highlight the importance of energy market developments for inflation dynamics and provide implications for monetary policy and energy market regulation.
As cities continue to grow, managing the increasing amount of waste has become an important concern. The study intends to assess the effects of waste generation and treatment on total resource productivity, as well as its subset, energy productivity, in European Union (EU) countries. The research employs the Driscoll-Kraay standard errors fixed effect model using panel regression. The findings reveal that waste generation impacts negatively on overall resource productivity and energy productivity. Furthermore, waste treatment also has a negative impact on resource productivity and energy productivity. These results suggest that despite the reduction in waste volumes achieved through treatment, the process may still have a negative relationship with productivity outcomes. The paper explores the underlying reasons for these findings and evaluates the status of waste generation and treatment across EU countries. Implications suggest introducing public-private partnerships to strengthen waste treatment processes, eco-tax solutions, incentives to green organizations, penalties for environmentally harmful practices, and improved data accessibility for informed decision-making. This study evaluates waste treatment techniques in the EU, focusing on the implementation of circular economy principles to promote sustainable development, increase resource productivity, and strengthen waste management frameworks.
The aim of the research was to identify changes in greenhouse gas emissions from EU countries in the years 2008-2022. The research used available Eurostat data from 24 EU countries. Descriptive statistics, the Ward method and shift share analysis were used. The survey shows that in 2021 the agricultural sector was responsible for 15.3% of total greenhouse emissions in EU. Most carbon emissions from farming come from methane (54%), followed by nitrous oxide (28%) and carbon dioxide (18%). The research shows that the largest increases in carbon pollution, creating a carbon footprint in the exploring period, were recorded in Bulgaria, Estonia, Romania, Latvia and Hungary. A different situation occurred in Croatia and Germany, where carbon dioxide and methane emissions from cultivation were reduced. The research confirms that the dynamics of changes in greenhouse gas emissions depend on the intensity of agribusiness. Moreover, the structure of greenhouse emissions varies regionally. Therefore, the European Union's policy on reducing the carbon footprint should consider regional conditions.
China remains the world’s largest coal producer, consumer, and importer, while Mongolia, relying on its geographical proximity and abundant reserves, has become one of China’s major suppliers of coking coal. This study examines the current state of Mongolia-China coal trade, export indicators, infrastructure development, logistical challenges, tariff policy, and long-term cooperation mechanisms. It also seeks to analyze the opportunities arising from bilateral economic cooperation, logistical barriers, and risks associated with the global energy transition. The findings suggest that Mongolia’s future competitiveness in China’s coal market will depend not only on its natural resources, but also on transport efficiency, the optimal organization of infrastructure, coherence in trade policy, and the development of value-added production. Монгол-Хятадын нүүрсний худалдаа: Боломж, сорилт Хураангуй: БНХАУ нь дэлхийн хамгийн том нүүрс үйлдвэрлэгч, хэрэглэгч, импортлогч орон хэвээр байгаа бол Монгол Улс газарзүйн ойр байршил болон арвин нөөцдөө тулгуурлан БНХАУ-ын коксжих нүүрсний томоохон нийлүүлэгчдийн нэг болсон. Энэхүү судалгаанд Монгол-Хятадын нүүрсний худалдааны өнөөгийн байдал, экспортын үзүүлэлт, дэд бүтцийн хөгжил, логистикийн хүндрэл, тарифын бодлого болон урт хугацааны хамтын ажиллагааны механизмыг авч үзэв. Мөн хоёр талын эдийн засгийн хамтын ажиллагаанаас үүсэх боломжууд, логистикийн саад бэрхшээл, дэлхийн эрчим хүчний шилжилттэй холбоотой эрсдэлийг шинжилэхийг хичээсэн болно. Судалгааны үр дүнгээс үзэхэд Монгол Улсын БНХАУ-ын нүүрсний зах зээл дэх ирээдүйн өрсөлдөх чадвар нь зөвхөн байгалийн нөөцөөс гадна тээврийн үр ашиг, дэд бүтцийн оновчтой зохион байгуулалт, худалдааны бодлогын уялдаа болон нэмүү өртөг шингэсэн үйлдвэрлэлийн хөгжлөөс ихээхэн хамаарах төлөвтэй байна. Түлхүүр үгс: Монгол Улс, БНХАУ, нүүрсний худалдаа, логистик, төмөр замын дэд бүтэц, экспортын өрсөлдөх чадвар, татварын бодлого
This article examines the Palestinian Authority’s fiscal responses to the withholding of clearance revenues crisis from 1997 to 2022, a critical issue rooted in international economic agreements. Since data for subsequent years were unavailable due to the impact of war (Gaza War), the analysis focuses on data up to 2022.The Paris Protocol, which governs economic relations between Israel and Palestine, establishes a customs union characterized by the absence of economic borders between the two sides and relies on a joint economic committee. Using data from official reports issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Palestine Monetary Authority, this study uses descriptive statistics and regression analysis to explore the relationship between current expenditures and clearance tax revenues. The results show a positive association between these expenditures and revenues, highlighting the significant impact of withheld funds on fiscal policy. The research highlights the need to renegotiate the Paris Economic Protocol to address structural weaknesses and prevent recurring fiscal crises. Recommendations include enhancing the efficiency of the tax system, diversifying revenue sources, and rationalizing spending to enhance fiscal stability. By placing the analysis in a broader context of international economic relations, this study contributes to understanding the interaction between domestic fiscal crises and international agreements. These findings have implications for policymakers and international stakeholders seeking to promote sustainable economic growth and mitigate the risks of unequal economic arrangements.
The Kashmir conflict remains one of the most enduring geopolitical disputes in South Asia, symbolizing broader tensions between India and Pakistan. While existing studies have predominantly examined the issue through realist or postcolonial lenses, comparatively limited attention has been given to how evolving geopolitical discourses actively reshape national identities, legitimize power claims, and constrain pathways for conflict resolution. Employing the framework of Critical Geopolitics and qualitative discourse analysis, this study investigates how state actors, media institutions, and international bodies construct competing geopolitical imaginaries of Kashmir. It argues that these discursive practices—rooted in postcolonial legacies and reinforced by contemporary great-power rivalries—reproduce Kashmir as a symbolic arena of legitimacy, sovereignty, and existential security rather than a negotiable political space. This analysis demonstrates that entrenched discursive framings do not merely describe the conflict but actively sustain it by constraining diplomatic thinking and marginalizing local voices and alternative perspectives. By reconceptualizing Kashmir as a discursive and identity-based struggle, this study advances critical geopolitical scholarship while offering policy relevant insights. It underscores the need for discourse-sensitive and inclusive approaches that move beyond territorial fixation toward mutual recognition and cooperative security.
This article examines the challenges of promoting human rights in Southeast Asia. It focuses on the limited effectiveness of the regional human rights regime, which is influenced by ASEAN leaders’ strong emphasis on state sovereignty and the uneven adoption of democratic governance among member states. The study aims is to identify the factors that hinder the promotion of human rights within ASEAN and to analyze the relationship between the levels of democracy and prioritization of human rights in the region. Using a qualitative research approach, the study analyzes the development of human rights cooperation in ASEAN through the lens of Regime Theory in International Relations. The findings indicate that the promotion of human rights in Southeast Asia is constrained by fragile political commitment among ASEAN leaders and by significant variations in democratic governance across member states. These differences shape national priorities and influence the extent to which human rights norms are internalized within the regional framework. The study concludes that the effectiveness of human rights promotion in ASEAN is closely linked to the level of democratic development among member states. The findings highlight important implications for regional policy-making and underscore the need to address the tension between sovereignty norms and human rights commitments in order to strengthen the institutionalization of the regional human rights regime.
