To What Scope Does International Law Impact the Way States Behave and Interact with Each Other and Why are International Institutions-Watchdogs of International Law- So Fundamental to the Liberals?

“The collapse of good conscience and the absence of accountability and public scrutiny have led to crimes against humanity and violations of international law.” Nelson Mandela. It goes without saying that International law has a great impact on the way states behave and interact with each other and so it does ascertain whether there is any threat to world peace or not, a breach of that peace, or any act of aggression that may undermine and sabotage international order. Ludwig Quidde was prompt to submit that: “every success in limiting armaments is a sign that the will to achieve mutual understanding exists, and every such success thus supports the fight for international law and order.” And he added that, the security of which we speak is to be attained by the development of international law through an international organization based on the principles of law and justice. It is noncontroversial that international law plays a key role in determining and regulating the relations of states in the global community. This paper attempts to describe how the main actors in international relations- the states- act and interact in our global environment within the parameters of international laws. It goes to show the scope in which the relations among states are determined by international law. While the foreign policy of a state arguably remains key to the conduct of relations with other states, international law serves as the Do’s and Don’ts that govern the extent in which states behave and interact with each other. Meanwhile, international institutions are a principal focus of international relations scholars, to be precise, the liberals, commonly called idealist by E.H Carr. The writer also seeks to examine and scrutinize the prominences of International institutions- watchdogs of international laws- to the liberals and the ways in which it has been theorized. It develops a definition from the liberal perspective and attempt to provide a conceptual framework of liberal institutionalism. It is hoped that the concept of war, the spirit of cooperation and democracy, prospects for peace, international order and justice will be analyzed through liberal lenses. Keywords: International, law, liberals, institutionalism, security, organization, peace, cooperation DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/73-01 Publication date:June 30th 201

Exploring Succession Planning for Executive Leadership Positions within Ohio\u27s Faith-based Organizations: A Multiple-Case Study

The predicted shortage in the number of qualified professionals available to fill vacant executive leadership positions is a significant concern for the non-profit sector. This qualitative multiple-case study explored the general problem of the potential lack of succession planning, resulting in the inability to identify future leaders within Ohio’s faith-based organizations. Specifically, this study concentrated on the selection process of candidates for executive leadership positions, and the succession planning process that contributed to a successful or failure to implement. In a purposeful sample, eighteen (18) senior leaders located in the eastern and western regions of Ohio, were selected for this study. As part of the conceptual framework, Hershey and Blanchard’s (1993) situational leadership theory were used to understand the group facilitator’s leadership style during succession planning activities. Data was collected and analyzed from semi-structured interviews, documents, and archival records. Findings are discussed from the perspective of senior leaders, which included current and former volunteers, and employees that previously participated in succession planning activities to appoint a new leader at Ohio’s faith-based organizations. Five themes emerged from the study and highlighted the strategies chosen by senior leaders as they prepared for succession planning activities. Furthermore, the results of this study and the future recommendations provided, contributed to the body of knowledge, and expanded the topic of succession planning for executive leadership positions in the non-profit sector

Lookıng Through the Lenses: Turkey-Eu Relatıons Is It a Game of Chess or a Chartless Journey?

As an incontrovertible fact, the Turkey-EU relation is getting riveting by the day. The determinations of the bloc not to admit Turkey to the EU has diluted Turkish political reforms and programmes. The decision of the bloc to block Turkey from becoming a fully fledged member of the EU is it politically motivated or is Turkey responsible for her own political foul-up? This paper uses different colour lenses in an attempt to synthesize the chemistry between the two parties in question. This paper focuses on the critical issues unfolding before our eyes as far as the Turkey-EU relation is concerned. In the same vein, it examines many critical issues worthy of consideration. Turkey has subscribed to several agreements with the European Union and found herself on the list of candidates whose memberships have not yet been accepted. This paper investigates critically into the relation of Turkey with the European Union, its evolution through time, and up-to-the-minute situations. This paper further seeks to shed light on the possible reasons why Turkey is not admitted to the EU and its possible membership. Keywords: European Union, Turkey, relations, agreement, accessions, membership, European Parliament, negotiations DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/71-03 Publication date: April 30th 201

Evaluating Trypanosomal DNA Repair Mechanisms

The anti-trypanosomal agents nifurtimox, benznidazole and fexinidazole are nitroheterocyclic prodrugs that must undergo type I nitroreductase (NTR1)-mediated activation before promoting their anti-parasitic activities. Such reactions generate toxic products some of which are hypothesised to promote DNA damage in the parasite’s genomes. Here, and using several complementary approaches, we assessed how components from Trypanosoma brucei’s homologous recombination (HR), nucleotide excision repair (NER), base excision repair (BER) and DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair pathways influence the mode of action of the above nitroheterocycles. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing was utilised to engineer parasites expressing mNeonGreen-tagged DNA repair enzymes from the above pathways. These were phenotyped with regard to protein localisation, and how protein expression is affected by DNA damaging/nitroaromatic prodrug treatments. Next, the susceptibility of parasites null or heterozygous for certain DNA repair genes to various DNA damaging/nitroheterocyclic prodrug treatments was determined while the effect of RNA interference on expression and function of selected NER factors was followed. Together, our findings indicate that nifurtimox, benznidazole and fexinidazole (as well as most DNA damaging treatments) elicit a globalized alteration in expression of most DNA repair factors evaluated even when that factor supposedly plays no role in repairing any damage generated. Phenotypic and protein expression studies revealed that the principal mechanism by which benznidazole-induced damage is resolved involves the cooperation of components of the trypanosome’s HR repair pathway (TbMRE11, γH2A, TbRAD51), indicating that the lesions produced by this agent are most likely double stand DNA breaks, while the sequence/recruitment kinetics of these factors parallels that in other eukaryotes HR systems. When extended to fexinidazole, our findings demonstrate this compound functions as a TbNTR1-activated prodrug with this interaction generating metabolites that promote forms of DNA damage which requires the cooperation of TbCSB and TbMRE11 from NER and HR, respectively, to resolve. Understanding the mode of activation of these compounds and how they interact with DNA repair factors will aid the development of novel therapies containing similar functional groups and facilitate the design of inhibitors of various DNA repair networks which when added to novel or current therapies makes them more potent

The perceptions of managers of SMEs operating in the tourism industry on sustainable development in the Gambia

Despite the prolific representation of Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in tourism activities in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), there seems to be little attention given to their perceptions of sustainable tourism development. Despite their large presence, few, if any tourism products are still said to be truly sustainable, or few, if any destinations can be called sustainable (Mckercher, 2003). They are now the subject of interest with a particular interest and focus on their ability to a changing environment, and how they adjust to change fast enough for their survival (Ball, 2005). Hence the importance of tourism in LDCs, and understanding the perceptions of such an important investor group in sustainable tourism is essential. The aim of this paper is to present the diverse perceptions of managers of SMEs in the tourism industry in The Gambia on sustainable tourism development (Drammeh, 2014). Data was collected from 73 participants, using a self completed questionaire. It asked questions on business practices, awareness and understanding of sustainable tourism and what it means for SMEs, and knowledge of sustainable tourism. Findings show fragmented views among managers of what sustainable tourism means. They are fragmented in their perceptions of whether tourism in The Gambia is operated in a sustainable manner. Their ethical business strategies are also not clear. The majority of the managers do not agree that most of the establishments are aware of sustainable tourism. Hence, the diverse perceptions that exist. It thus seems that the concept of sustainable tourism development does not seem to be universally understood

The Mental Health Burden of Racial Discrimination in Young Adults

This study examined the association between racial discrimination and depressive symptoms among Rhode Island young adults. The 2022 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey recruited 1,022 young adults aged 18-25 years who lived in Rhode Island for at least part of the year. Multivariable logistic regression for depressive symptoms controlled for sexual and gender identity, race/ethnicity, social status, age, employment, and student status. Odds of depressive symptoms increased for experiences of childhood racial discrimination (+70%; 95%CI: 14%, 155%) and any racial discrimination (+56%; 95%CI: 6%, 130%), but not for racial discrimination in adulthood (+38%; 95%CI: -8%, 108%). Experiences of racial discrimination increase odds of depressive symptoms among young adults. Children are particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences of adversity like racial discrimination. Prevention measures such as universal screening for childhood adversity, incorporating antiracism education into all institutional settings, and continued nondiscrimination policy and enforcement should be employed

Sexual Harassment in Media Agencies in the Gambia- Individual and Organizational Response

This descriptive study on Sexual harassment SH in media agencies in The Gambia investigated the prevalence of the practice the situations that drive the practice and individual as well as organizational mode of response to the issue The research design adopted was survey using both quantitative and qualitative methods Survey questionnaires were administered on 109 respondents drawn from 24 media organizations and freelancing journalists The organisations were purposively selected while respondents within each organisation were randomly sample