مطالب

Economic sanctions, involving trade restrictions imposed by one country or a group of countries against another, come in various forms, such as tariffs, trade barriers, and import/export restrictions. In recent times, Iran and Russia have become targets of diverse economic sanctions imposed by the Western Bloc. Given that both countries heavily rely on their energy sectors as the bedrock of their economies, this study focuses on assessing the impact of Western sanctions on Iran and Russia's energy industries. Employing the Futurology method (Scenario planning), the research examines the effects of Western sanctions on the energy sectors of Iran and Russia, and explores their respective responses to mitigate these adverse consequences. The findings highlight four potential scenarios for the future of the Iranian and Russian energy sectors, based on two megatrends of sanctions and geopolitical tensions. Among these scenarios, the "Ideal scenario" emerges as the most favorable outcome, while the "Austerity scenario" poses the greatest challenges. Despite the short-term efficacy of these strategies, the study underscores heightened long-term investment risks in both nations. Consequently, foreign investors' participation in the oil and gas sectors of Iran and Russia is expected to decline.

This study investigates the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), political stability, and coal efficiency in Vietnam using time series analysis from 1985 to 2021. Results indicate that political stability positively influences coal efficiency, encouraging investments in cleaner technologies. However, inward FDI exhibits negative impacts on coal efficiency, indicating limited contributions to greener projects. Moreover, a 1% increase in sustainable power generation significantly improves coal efficiency. To enhance coal efficiency, practical policies are needed, including fostering a stable political environment, incentivizing FDI in energy-efficient technologies, collaborating for technology transfer, investing in research and development, and promoting sustainable power generation. These strategies can aid Vietnam in reducing coal reliance and transitioning towards a more sustainable energy landscape.

The Unconventional Gas Production Revolution in the US has ushered in new opportunities for American petrochemical companies, granting abundant access to gas resources and fostering business growth. Consequently, prominent global petrochemical firms have made substantial investments in the United States' petrochemical and chemical industries. Simultaneously, the surge in gas production from unconventional reserves in the US has led to considerable growth in the country's petrochemical output. To address this crucial topic, we conducted a comprehensive time series analysis, investigating the long and short-term relationships between oil and polyethylene prices in the US during the shale gas development phase. Employing an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model for the period spanning from January 2013 to December 2017, our research findings reveal that, in the long run, there exists a positive and significant influence of the oil price variable on polyethylene prices. However, in the short term, no discernible impact on the polyethylene price variable was observed. Interestingly, the analysis also indicates a unidirectional causal relationship, with oil prices influencing polyethylene prices. This finding suggests that despite the divergence between oil and gas prices, oil remains a crucial determinant of petrochemical product pricing. The results underscore the significance of shale gas development and its impact on the petrochemical industry. As the US continues to experience increased gas production, comprehending the intricate relationships between oil, gas, and petrochemical prices becomes imperative for companies' strategic decision-making and policymakers alike.

The main question in this paper is to what extent communal land ownership (CLO) influences the utilization of environmentally friendly resources? To find the answer to this question, this study investigates the relationship between (CLO) and the adoption of environmentally sustainable resources in 12 emerging economies from 1990 to 2019, utilizing a panel data methodology. Findings suggest that (CLO) has a positive impact on promoting green resource utilization in the long term, whereas its short-term effects on green resource consumption are not substantial. Moreover, an immediate increase in GDP exhibits a negative influence, while a long-term rise positively affects the progression of green resource consumption. The Gini coefficient adversely affects the deployment of green resources, and heightened economic uncertainty leads to a reduction in their consumption. To harness the positive effects of (CLO) on green resource utilization, emerging economies should focus on implementing sustainable development education programs (ESD), bolstering green financial inclusivity, expanding poverty alleviation policies, enhancing functional literacy, and augmenting financial diffusion.

Following the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, the sociopolitical rivalry between Hindu religious nationalists and secular democratic nationalists that arose during the independence struggles and whose intolerance precipitated the conflict persists to this day. Following an extended period of dominance as one of the two major political parties in India, the Indian National Congress Party (INC), which espouses Indian secularism rooted in Gandhian socialism, social democracy, secularism, and democratic socialism, has been at the helm of Indian politics for over three decades. However, Hindu nationalism will soon supplant INC's political preeminence, which forms the foundation of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) political ideology. This article aims to shed light on the voting patterns of supporters of radical Hindu political parties over a three-decade period (1980-2014). Additionally, it will examine the impact of globalization on the dynamics of interaction between radical Hindus and adherents of other religious minorities in India, including Islam and Christianity. The primary research inquiry of the article is as follows: To what extent has globalization influenced the voting patterns of radical Hindu political party supporters? Furthermore, what impact has globalization had on the dynamics of interaction between adherents of Hinduism and other faiths in India?