The role of think tanks in integration processes

The article analyzes the role of think tanks in the development of supranational integration projects. The significance and the international experience of using the potential of think tanks in foreign policy is considered. As a result of the study, some reasons have been identified that hinder the harmonious integration and development of interaction of think tanks within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union. The public policy of most of the EAEU countries has not yet developed a tradition related to the financing of thought factories from individuals and organizations, as well as from business structures and special trust funds, as well as tax benefits and mechanisms that facilitate this process. The lack of opportunities to receive a research order or a grant from the public or private sector, including from the supranational structures of the EAEU, which are existentially important for the functioning and development of thought factories. As a rule, this pushes thought factories to participate in grant projects of countries and organizations located outside the EAEU. As a result, in some EAEU countries, the financial flows that support this sector mainly come from other countries. In fact, using numerous grant programs and other soft tools, other external actors often use the potential of the thought factories of the EAEU countries, thereby getting the opportunity to dictate their agenda, lobby their interests and promote their vision in specific policy areas, which undoubtedly sets trends in the expert-analytical environment, affects the ideological orientation of thought factories and the formation of public opinion. There are not enough platforms that promote the interaction of thought factories within the framework of the EAEU, which, along with an insufficient financial component that can create appropriate motivation, significantly hinders the development of integration in this direction.

Other(ing) practices: critiquing the Canada Council for the Arts' Equity Office

As part of the Canada Council for the Arts' Equity Office' s mandate, support is maintained for artists of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and mixed-race heritage. To fulfill this duty, grant programs have been developed specifically for these artists who are identified as 'culturally diverse'. As an art world unto itself, the Canada Council is responsible not only for creating its own conventions but also for determining what kind of artists may operate within it. With differentiated grant programs for culturally diverse artists, it appears that this group occupies a marginal space within the Canada Council's art world. Drawing from the experiences of two culturally diverse artists, this paper examines issues of belonging, representation, and identity. It was found that while the artists are aware and uncomfortable with the stigma that arises from the 'culturally diverse' label, the reception of public funding takes precedence over feelings of Otherness. Key words: Canada Council for the Arts; culturally diverse; artist; equity; Othering

Other(ing) practices: critiquing the Canada Council for the Arts' Equity Office

As part of the Canada Council for the Arts' Equity Office' s mandate, support is maintained for artists of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and mixed-race heritage. To fulfill this duty, grant programs have been developed specifically for these artists who are identified as 'culturally diverse'. As an art world unto itself, the Canada Council is responsible not only for creating its own conventions but also for determining what kind of artists may operate within it. With differentiated grant programs for culturally diverse artists, it appears that this group occupies a marginal space within the Canada Council's art world. Drawing from the experiences of two culturally diverse artists, this paper examines issues of belonging, representation, and identity. It was found that while the artists are aware and uncomfortable with the stigma that arises from the 'culturally diverse' label, the reception of public funding takes precedence over feelings of Otherness. Key words: Canada Council for the Arts; culturally diverse; artist; equity; Othering

Other(ing) practices : critiquing the Canada Council for the Arts' Equity Office

As part of the Canada Council for the Arts' Equity Office's mandate, support is maintained for artists of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and mixed-race artists who are identified as 'culturally diverse'. As an art world unto itself, the Canada Council is responsible not only for creating its own conventions but also for determining what kind of artists may operate within it. With differentiated grant programs for culturally diverse artists, it appears that this group occupies a marginal space within the Canada Council's art world. Drawing from the experiences of two culturally diverse artists, this paper examines issues of belonging, representation, and identity. It was found that while artists are aware and uncomfortable with the stigma that arises from the 'culturally diverse' label, the reception of public funding takes precedence over feelings of Otherness.

Other(ing) practices : critiquing the Canada Council for the Arts' Equity Office

As part of the Canada Council for the Arts' Equity Office's mandate, support is maintained for artists of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and mixed-race artists who are identified as 'culturally diverse'. As an art world unto itself, the Canada Council is responsible not only for creating its own conventions but also for determining what kind of artists may operate within it. With differentiated grant programs for culturally diverse artists, it appears that this group occupies a marginal space within the Canada Council's art world. Drawing from the experiences of two culturally diverse artists, this paper examines issues of belonging, representation, and identity. It was found that while artists are aware and uncomfortable with the stigma that arises from the 'culturally diverse' label, the reception of public funding takes precedence over feelings of Otherness.

“Our arithmetic was unique”: The Sheppard-Towner Act and the Constraints of Federalism on Data Collection Before the New Deal

This article reveals how the politics of federalism in the 1920s stifled the U.S. Children’s Bureau’s ability to collect national data on the workings of the Sheppard-Towner Act. The Bureau staff’s reliance on state administrators for data hindered their efforts to collect standardized national statistics on the states’ use of federal dollars. Ultimately, this barrier contributed to Sheppard-Towner’s defeat in 1929. Though the law was short-lived, the problems the Children’s Bureau encountered administering it provide insights into how federal matching grant programs began to shape federal and state relations before the New Deal. As this article shows, Bureau staff learned from their experience administering Sheppard-Towner that they needed to implement more stringent federal oversight over state-level accounting in their administration of Title V of the Social Security Act.

State Scholarship Programs and Grants as a Factor of the Human Capital Development: Russian and Foreign Experience

Recognizing the importance of the development of human capital, many countries contribute to the growth of international student mobility through various state grants and scholarships for their citizens and foreign students. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on the state's benefit from sponsoring scholarship programs and study abroad grants in the context of the development of the country's human capital. This article examines scholarship programs and grants to study abroad regarding human capital development, how they can help build human capital, and what can be an obstacle for that. The authors analyze the features and implementation mechanisms and provide typology of the programs in modern conditions. Based on a review of state scholarship programs and grants for studying abroad, and an analysis of scholars' studies and regulatory documents, authors identify existing and potential obstacles to building up and effectively using human capital such as non-return of scholarship holders to their homeland, deskilling, bureaucratic employment procedures, emigration intentions after fulfilling obligations under the program, etc. Exploring of foreign and Russian experience in implementing state scholarship and grant programs, authors determine several ways for the further development of the programs in the context of the idea of human capital building. The results of the study can be applied to the development and improvement of the Russian scholarship programs and grants for studying abroad.

FINANCING OF PUBLIC AND LOCAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS IN UKRAINE AND POLAND

The article researches financing instruments of public and local programs and projects in Ukraine and Poland (budgetary, grant, financial, credit and investment instruments). The purpose of the article is to determine the possibilities of using financing instruments of public and local programs and projects in Ukraine and Poland for the implementation of national and regional public policy. Research methods — comparative analysis of analytical and official statistics of Ukraine and Poland based on the classification of groups of financing instruments of public and local programs and projects. It has been proved that the main instruments for financing public and local projects and programs in Ukraine and Poland are budget (subventions, local targeted programs) and grant instruments (grant programs, international technical assistance). The evaluation of the distribution structure of funds within the framework of individual programs in Poland and Ukraine made it possible to allocate key objects of grant financing in Ukraine (education, sports, health and social protection) and in Poland (territory planning, road transport infrastructure, business development and innovation). It is determined that international loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank are an important financial and credit instrument in countries, as evidenced by the total volume of loans attracted by countries from international organizations. The peculiarities of development and implementation of investment instruments of financing of public and local programs and projects were studied: public-private partnership, leasing activities. The conclusions summarize mechanisms for the use of financing instruments in Ukraine and Poland and propose ways to strengthen existing capacities and improve the financing process of public and local programs and projects for Ukraine.