The central subject in the South China Sea is over who has power and rule over the islands and their adjacent waters as well as independent right and influence in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf determined from the islands, low-tide elevations, the exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf, maritime boundary delimitation and dispute settlement are all valid and support in resolving and highlighting the issue of the South China Sea. The ASEAN claimants, mostly since 2009, have gone through several procedures and modifications in their demands to clarify their claims trying ...

The impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War on European security dynamics cannot be underestimated. This research provides an extensive analysis of how this war has affected various aspects across eight chapters. It delves into regional dynamics with a special focus on how countries like those in the Baltic region have responded to changing security threats by prioritizing defense measures and promoting cooperation within their region. Additionally, it considers NATO's role in managing security implications generated by this conflict while emphasizing that achieving credible deterrence without unintended ...

Infrastructure privatization is initiated through various modes by different countries and can generally include the construction of new privately owned facilities, privatization of existing facilities, concessions or leases, and project financing. B.O.T. [Build-Operate- Transfer] means the government grants investment enterprises an operational concession for a period, permits them to construct and administrate certain public infrastructures by financing, and authorizes them to pay off loans, reclaim investment and make a profit through charging from users or selling products. At the expiration ...

Cooperation with third states constitutes an important pillar of the EU’s migration policy. This study analyses to which extent the cooperation between the EU and its neighbouring countries had an impact on the protection of the rights of migrants and refugees in the respective countries. It gives a general overview of the state of the art of national migration policies and legislations in the Eastern and Western European neighbourhood and the Western Balkan states. .Three case studies on Georgia, Kosovo and Lebanon illustrate further the country specific situation of migrants and refugees ...

The prevalent approach to Open Educational Resources (OER) and Creative Commons (CC) in Lebanon during the last two decades has been a manifestation of the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ in the digital sphere. The experience of the 2019 popular uprising (‘Thawra’) and ensuing 2020-2021 Covid 19 Lockdown, however, Covid 19 provide examples of an alternative ‘Governing the Commons’ in which users of shared goods and resources can transcend narrow self-interest and work for sustainable value management collectively. Using a contrapuntal approach, two intertwined storylines will be assessed, ...

2015 was a revolutionary year in Saudi Arabian history, marked by the controversial ascension to power of Crown Prince Mohammad Ben Salman, son of King Salman. During his subsequent reign, Crown Prince Ben Salman has set the firm objective of restoring Saudi Hegemony, a goal which he is concurrently pursuing ever since using a combination of changes implemented to domestic and foreign affairs. Whilst enforcing a change in historical political narrative in such short period of time is painted as unrealistic and unachievable, Mohammad Ben Salman’s ambition and determination, combined with his ...

This research study examines the economic and diplomatic strategies of GCC countries (Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia). It aims to analyze strengths, weaknesses, and challenges faced, as well as gaps in existing literature. Research questions focus on economic diplomacy, strategies employed by GCC countries, and gaps in current literature. The study begins with an introduction to the GCC countries and member states, followed by research objectives, scope, and limitations. A literature review explores economic strategies and diplomatic approaches, highlighting gaps in comparative studies, ...

The revival of the Lebanese public administration is necessary for restoring the basic role and services of the Lebanese government. In 2011, The Office of Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR) presented the “Strategy for the Reform and Development of Public Administration in Lebanon.” The reform strategy is laced with words like “empowerment”, “business re-engineering”, “benchmarking”, “learning organization”… it seems that New Public Management principles inspired the reform framework designed by OMSAR. The intention of this study is to increase the understanding of the 2011 ...

Studying and analyzing local perceptions of peacekeeping missions have recently headed the forefront of United Nations peacekeeping objectives. UNIFIL which has been present for more than 35 years in Southern Lebanon has long sought to interact with the local population within an environment that is politically and economically challenging. This paper aimed at studying the perception of the local population towards UNIFIL. By reviewing the long years of interaction since the mission’s inception in 1978, UNIFILs’ humanitarian services and projects created a climate of positive interaction within ...