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Strong foreign relations among nations are crucial for fostering global stability, economic growth, and cross-cultural understanding. A stable global system that resolves conflicts through dialogue rather than confrontation benefits from positive foreign relations. This paper examines Turkiye's changing foreign policy approach towards Sub-Saharan African regional blocs, with an emphasis on their political, cultural, and economic facets. Turkiye's strategic involvement with influential regional bodies such as the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), among others, reflects its broader objective to expand its influence and cultivate multifaceted partnerships across the African continent. The scope of this paper is limited to the AU and ECOWAS. Through a comprehensive analysis, the paper evaluates Turkiye's economic initiatives, including trade agreements and investment flows, as well as its contributions to infrastructure development. The findings established Turkiye's peacekeeping roles, cultural diplomacy, diplomatic efforts, and educational exchanges. Through the investigation of these diverse aspects, the conclusion outlines a comprehensive understanding of Turkiye's place in geopolitical dynamics and regional integration in Sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: Foreign Policy, Foreign Relations, Turkiye, Sub-Saharan Africa, Regional Blocs, Introduction Following the end of the Cold War, a new concept emerged to deal with international and foreign affairs. This concept was dubbed the 'New World Order.' (1) However, the [...]

The study examined the role of agricultural cooperatives in strengthening the resilience and social fabric of rural communities in the Kita and Yanfolila regions of Mali. Using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, data was collected from 149 participants, including cooperative members and non-members, through structured surveys and focus group discussions. It explored the challenges faced by farmers, the benefits of cooperative membership, the dynamics of social cohesion within these cooperatives, the nuances of inclusion, and conducted a comparative analysis between cooperative members and non-members. The communities in Kita and Yanfolila faced multiple adversities that significantly affected their resilience, livelihoods and overall well-being. Drought emerged as the most serious problem, affecting the entire population and underscoring its profound impact on agriculture and welfare. Flooding was also a significant threat, exacerbating food insecurity. While terrorist activities and COVID-19 seemed less pressing due to their limited occurrence or awareness at the time, vigilance and awareness remained key. The study highlighted the myriad benefits of cooperative membership and how it empowered members through agricultural training, access to resources and financial stability. In particular, cooperatives have been instrumental in addressing water scarcity and ensuring sustainable access through initiatives such as boreholes and pumping equipment, thereby increasing agricultural productivity and food security. The study also highlighted the key role of cooperatives in fostering social cohesion, promoting conflict resolution and serving as networking platforms. Members praised cooperatives for providing emotional and material support in times of need, disseminating conflict management techniques and promoting transparent, collective decision-making processes. However, there was a noticeable gap in perceptions between cooperative members and non-members regarding the role of cooperatives in conflict resolution. Non-members were less confident, possibly due to a lack of exposure or understanding of cooperative mechanisms. Inclusivity emerged as a key issue, with discussions highlighting the challenge of extending benefits to nonmembers, which could lead to feelings of exclusion. Income disparities between members and non-members further exacerbated issues of social cohesion. The study also highlighted the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing disrupted supply chains, reduced incomes, increased unemployment and heightened food insecurity in rural communities. Despite this, agricultural cooperatives stepped up by disseminating information, distributing essential supplies and promoting hygiene practices. Key words: Agricultural cooperative, resilience, peacebuilding, social cohesion, COVID-19, Mali, INTRODUCTION Agriculture is undoubtedly of central importance to the economy of Mali, as it is the cornerstone of this landlocked West African country. It contributes around 30% of gross domestic [...]

This paper critically analyzes the African Union's (AU) efforts toward continental integration, highlighting the gap between its rhetoric and the actions of member states' political leaders. The paper suggests that the AU's focus on individual state sovereignty, rather than continental unity, is partly due to its self-serving role for the political elite, serving as a vessel for regime-boosting and sovereignty-enhancing purposes. The paper acknowledges some of the successes of the AU in reducing armed conflicts and military coups through its Peace and Security Council, Panels of Conflicts Resolution, and the African Standby Force for peace missions. It also recognizes the potential benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which aims to lower or eliminate cross-border tariffs on most goods, promote investment, and pave the way for a continent-wide customs union. However, the paper argues that 'performative' Pan-Africanism efforts demonstrate the persistent gap between the AU's rhetoric and actions. Therefore, a close examination of the AU reveals how reigning regimes use regionalism as 'opportunity structures' in political crises. The paper suggests that the AU's focus on individual state sovereignty reinforces traditional notions of sovereignty and hinders the process of continental integration. The paper contributes to the scholarship of regionalism by examining the less prominent roles of integration in Africa. It also highlights how supranational entities can be adaptive and mutative for their specific locales. Finally, the paper calls for critically examining the AUs role and potential for promoting genuine continental unity. KEYWORDS: African Union; regional economic communities; AfCFTA; Regionalism in Africa; Sovereignty-boosting; pan- Africanism; Regime-boosting; Performative regionalism, INTRODUCTION The African Union (AU) mission is unambiguous: 'An integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.' (1) And supporters [...]

Real-time train rescheduling for high-speed railway (HSR) is a pivotal technique in HSR transportation to efficiently recover train operation under disturbance scenarios. This paper aims to put forward an integrated resolving and rescheduling method considering network delay propagation. A tree-based conflict resolution mechanism is first established, with delicate considerations on the strategy's adaptability under different conflict scenarios. By inputting the scheduled arrival and departure time under different conflict resolution strategies, the timetable optimizing model aims to look for an optimal solution with minimal weighted train delay and average train adjustments under necessary technical and empirical constraints solved by a combined algorithm of Pareto optimality and Nash equilibrium, where the feasible solution space is narrowed in advance by a depth-first pruning algorithm. The performance of this coordinated train rescheduling approach is validated by a typical section disturbance in a regional HSR network administrated by the Shanghai Bureau. The results show that the proposed method can well utilizes timetable buffers and organizes train avoidance. The delay propagation characteristics are also simultaneously estimated based on the indicators of cumulative delay and instantaneous delay, which are established considering the spatio-temporal difference between the scheduled and planned timetables, in order to verify the coordination between resolution strategies and train running delays., Author(s): Jun Zhang (corresponding author) [1]; Shuyao Wu [1]; Shejun Deng [1]; Yuling Ye [2] 1. Introduction Under the network transportation of high-speed railway (HSR), disturbances of abnormal events are [...]

While sanctions and mediation are often used to address the same conflict situations, they are usually employed without significant coordination. Focusing on a rare case of a mediator successfully wielding the threat of sanctions, this article explores the utility of sanctions for mediation in the Yemeni political transition during the mandate of UN special adviser Jamal Benomar. Although the transition ultimately derailed, the analysis shows that the threat of sanctions can be used in different phases of the mediation process to provide mediators with the leverage needed to convince conflict parties to engage in negotiations, break stalemates during talks, nudge parties toward an agreement, or persuade potential spoilers to refrain from undermining the implementation of the negotiated agreement. Their success, however, not only depends on the degree of convergence between the application of the two instruments, but also on the type of target, regional support, and institutional backing. Keywords United Nations - sanctions - mediation - Yemen - political transition - conflict resolution, 1 Introduction (1) When addressing situations threatening international peace and security, the United Nations routinely draws on a range of tools at its disposal, including diplomacy, sanctions, the use of [...]

The UN frequently employs sanctions on the same conflicts where it attempts mediation. While both efforts carry a UN stamp, they follow different political logics that are not always coherent with each other: sanctions are enacted by the UN Security Council, while mediation is led by a special representative/envoy of the UN SecretaryGeneral, often on the basis of a Security Council mandate. This article explores two UN interventions in Libya that combined mediation with mandatory sanctions: the conflict leading to the overthrow of the Muammar Qaddafi regime (2011) and the civil war that ensued when the country was split between the first elected parliament and its successor (2014-2015). The Libyan case illustrates that the coherence of mediation and sanctions ultimately depends on the UN Security Council unity of purpose. Keywords United Nations Security Council - Libya - mediation - sanctions - policy coherence principal-agent framework, 1 Introduction The United Nations frequently employs sanctions on the same conflicts where it attempts mediation. While both efforts carry a UN stamp, they follow different political logics and processes. [...]

Sanctions and mediation are often applied simultaneously by the UN, but there has been little systematic exploration of their interrelationships. Drawing on research from the Sanctions and Mediation Project (SMP), both complications and complementarities can be identified. Sanctions can complicate mediation by fostering exclusion, emboldening nonsanctioned parties, closing mediation space, undercutting mediator impartiality, and forcing premature agreements. At the same time, sanctions can complement mediation by deterring spoilers, breaking stalemates, incentivizing cooperation, modifying cost-benefit calculations, ensuring broad participation in talks, and facilitating the onset of talks. The conditions under which complementarity can be enhanced include UN Security Council unity, focus and coherence of mandates, and regional cooperation. This article concludes with policy recommendations for different institutional actors and some suggestions for future research. Keywords sanctions - mediation - UN - intervention - conflict resolution - negotiations, 1 Introduction UN Security Council sanctions are always applied in conjunction with other policy instruments when the Council addresses threats to international peace and security. UN sanctions coexist with mediation, [...]

The purpose of this study was to examine successful collaboration and conflict resolution techniques from research and experience. Subjects were graduate online learners (Anglo and Hispanic female teachers) who responded to discussion and planning through an early intervention online certificate class at the University of Texas at El Paso, a border university located within two blocks of Mexico. Evaluation indicated associations between or among certain techniques worth noting when collaborating and engaging in conflict resolution in early intervention situations., Introduction and Review of Literature Successful early intervention is dependent on collaboration and conflict resolution between teachers and other professionals that work together for special children. Depending on a student's [...]

Due to housing unaffordability shared residence among young adults is an increasingly popular lifestyle in the Western world and an established cultural institution in New Zealand. Surprisingly, research on the topic is limited. While flatting is economically and socially attractive, navigating inevitable tension in interpersonal relationships in the intimacy of domesticity can present challenges. Applying discourse analysis, the current study examines how New Zealanders, aged 20 to 35, talk about the experience of shared domestic living and conflict. Patterns in talk centered on sources, management and consequences of interpersonal conflict. Young adults actively endeavour to avoid or resolve problems amicably. The study provides insight into the complex social dynamics of these non-kin household relationships. Keywords: Shared housing, conflict, interpersonal relationships., Introduction Globally, contemporary youth are experiencing growing housing difficulties. Shared housing, or flatting, among young adults is a socio-economic contract in which householders split costs and housework (Mause, 2008). Rather [...]

Recent studies of diversionary theory focus on domestic determinants of conflict between interstate rivals as well as the strategic behavior of potential targets of diversion. This paper addresses both issues by analyzing the tendency of the U.S. and Iran to use their rivalry for diversionary purposes from 1990 to 2004. Throughout the study, I seek to answer the following questions: Do the U.S. and Iran use their rivalry to divert attention away from domestic political and economic problems? Second, does Iran reciprocate hostile actions from the U.S. or act more conciliatory to avoid becoming the target of diversion. My findings demonstrate that U.S. Presidents appear to be more hostile toward Iran as there is a decline in their approval ratings. The same conclusion cannot be drawn for Iran. The findings suggest that Iran neither uses hostility toward the U.S. to divert attention away from domestic problems nor behaves strategically to avoid becoming the target of a potential U.S. diversion., Introduction There has been an unresolved debate in conflict literature over the influence of domestic factors in the outbreak of conflict between states. Scholars have approached the topic, known as [...]

The repercussions of the Arab Spring and new polarization between Iran, Israel and the Gulf States means the Middle East faces multiple rivalries and conflicts. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and the United States seem to have reached an agreement on certain issues in an attempt to redesign a fractured regional order. This vision is yet to be realized on the ground given the uncertainty around Washington's global role. In assessing regional stakeholders and their potential capabilities as well as several scenes of regional conflict, the paper argues Turkey plays a traditional role in balancing tensions between Iran, the Gulf and Israel. While Turkey does not have a silver bullet, it provides 'balancing' support to the region, preserving neutral, middle ground., Introduction For the past seven years, the Middle East has been preoccupied with the repercussions of the process known as the Arab Spring. Today, the region lies at the crossroads [...]

From being a traditional hot spot of conflicts, then entering into its longest peaceful age, Europe (the European Union) is now increasingly becoming a promoter of peace and an important actor in conflict resolution. This paper aims to identify the conflict resolution mechanisms available to the EU and proposes new analytical tools by distinguishing direct and indirect mechanism of conflict resolution. Keywords: EU, conflict resolution, mechanism, peace building, CSDP., As a responsible stakeholder in international global system, the EU, by the virtue of its stakes in it, has to play a role in conflicts occurring throughout the world, and [...]

Abstract. In this paper, we tackle the aircraft conflict resolution problem under uncertainties. We consider errors due to the wind effect, the imprecision of aircraft speed prediction, and the delay [...]

This article examines the contested narratives engendered by the teaching and writing of the Nigeria-Biafra War. Drawing on the domain of education, it interrogates official and hegemonic narratives forged by the Nigerian state to shape the history, memories, and narratives of the war to suit its own vision, interests, and politics, in the light of marginalized ethnic groups that contest these narratives and reject them as the sole legitimate framework for remembering and interpreting the war. The analysis interrogates the extant education-reconciliation nexus, exploring the kind of education that will best serve the needs and processes of conflict resolution, reconciliation, and nation building in Nigeria., Introduction From Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Cambodia, Japan, Northern Ireland, and Rwanda to the United States, (1) memories of the past have profoundly shaped the political, socioeconomic, and cultural [...]

We study the impact of communication on behavior in a two-stage coordination game with asymmetric payoffs. We test experimentally whether individuals can avoid a head-to-head confrontation by means of coordinated strategies. In particular we analyze whether and how quickly a conflict-avoidance take turn strategy can emerge. First, our results show that players learn to solve the conflict by choosing opposite options at both stages of the game. Second, many adopt a take turn strategy to sustain coordination over time and alleviate the inequality induced by the asymmetry of payoffs. Third, communication increases the likelihood of conflict resolution regardless of whether communication is unilateral or bilateral. (JEL C91, D74, L15, H71), I. INTRODUCTION Coordination failures are frequent in organizations and lead to huge losses of efficiency. Several studies have shown that communication can alleviate coordination failures, both when the players' interests [...]

The implementation of projects producing external effects is often a source of disagreement and conflict between hosting and nonhosting communities. The article focuses on the impact of participatory ownership on [...]

We address the conflict resolution problem in air traffic management. It is widely acknowledged that air traffic controllers' (ATCs) workload is related to the density of flights. ATCs' main task [...]

The study investigated the influence of leadership style on conflict management in private university libraries in South-West and South-South Nigeria. The study employed the descriptive research design. Total enumeration was adopted because of few numbers of librarians in private and structured questionnaire were used to collect data. The instrument was validated using Cronbach's Alpha. Data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics such as percentage distributions, mean and standard deviation as well as regression analysis. The finding revealed that conflict management techniques used in the university libraries studied were collaborating and accommodating, followed by sharing. Avoidance and competing techniques were not frequently used by the librarians in the study. Also the study shows that leadership style ([beta] = .312, F=17.410, P < .05) has significant influence on conflict management. The study recommends that the library administration should encourage the workers to do the right; individual interest must not reign supreme over the common goal and also there should be meetings by librarians of different cadre to address the issues affecting harmonious working relationship and service of the library. Keywords: Conflict, Conflict Management, Leadership Style, Private University Libraries, Introduction Organizations work together and interact with one another as social units. In order to achieve its objectives, organizational structure is formed, where people of different gender, age, educational background, [...]