Journal of Politics and Law, Issue: Vol.19, No.1

From Gatekeepers to Gravediggers: The Role of Political Party Leaders and Candidates in Democratic Decline – and the Case for Principled Leadership

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 04:12:34 +0000

Political parties remain indispensable to representative democracy, yet their evolving role has become a central driver of democratic decline. Once the guardians of accountability, many parties now function as instruments of personalization, elite entrenchment, and institutional decay. This article examines how the internal dynamics of party leadership—manifested through clientelism, opportunistic candidate selection, and the erosion of programmatic commitments—accelerate the normalization of illiberal practices. Drawing on comparative evidence and democratic theory, it argues that reversing this trend requires a culture of principled leadership grounded in ethical recruitment and transparent accountability. To that end, the article introduces two complementary frameworks: the Political Party Leadership Code (PPLC), which articulates ten normative principles for ethical leadership selection, and the Leadership Scoring Metric (LSM), which operationalizes these standards into measurable criteria. Together, these instruments offer a pathway for institutional and cultural reform, enabling parties to reclaim their gatekeeping function and restore public trust in democratic governance.

Economic Guarantees of Security: A New Architecture of Peace

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:38:15 +0000

This article introduces and theoretically substantiates the concept of economic guarantees of security — a new class of international commitments aimed at preventing aggression and ensuring the implementation of peace treaties. The traditional security system relies on political and military deterrence, while the economic factor usually plays a reactive role through sanctions and compensation after conflict (Baldwin, 1997). A different approach is proposed: the use of pre-established economic consequences for violations of agreements and, conversely, material incentives for maintaining peace (Rozenfeld, 2024). The key idea is the institutionalization of economic guarantees in the form of “special sections” of international agreements that define concrete financial enforcement mechanisms: funds, bonds, insurance instruments, and asset freezes based on predetermined criteria (Kunreuther & Michel-Kerjan, 2009). This solution makes the security system economically enforceable, turning war into a financially disadvantageous action (Fearon, 1995).

Bonds Against Surprise Attack as an Instrument of Economic Deterrence

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:40:42 +0000

This article examines a new type of debt instrument—Surprise Attack Bonds (SABs)—designed to capitalize on military threat risks and create economic security guarantees. These bonds combine the properties of insurance and debt obligations, providing immediate defense financing and stabilizing the national economy in the event of a surprise attack. This creates a new level of preventative security. Unlike traditional sanctions and compensation payments, SABs take effect before a conflict begins, creating a measurable “insurance barrier” against aggression.

Balancing Giants, Building Influence: Mongolia’s Soft Power in Asia

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:51:05 +0000

This article analyzes Mongolia’s evolving strategic goals in Asia and the progress of its soft power development. Since the 1990s, Mongolia has pursued a balanced foreign policy through its “Third Neighbor Policy,” while advancing long-term modernization under Vision-2050 and the New Recovery Policy. These strategies have enabled Mongolia to diversify partnerships beyond China and Russia, strengthen cultural diplomacy, and expand educational and scientific exchanges. The country’s climb to 108th place in the 2025 Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index underscores recent achievements in media visibility, culture, education, and international relations. Cultural revival initiatives, international performances such as The Mongol Khan, branding campaigns like “#GoMongolia,” and academic cooperation have played central roles in raising Mongolia’s profile. Yet, significant constraints persist, including political instability, economic dependency on mineral exports, infrastructural limitations, and governance challenges. The study concludes that while Mongolia has enhanced its visibility and cultural appeal, its ability to transform soft power into sustained influence depends on governance reforms, institutional continuity, and deeper regional and multilateral engagement.

The Common Interest Principle Should be the Fundamental Principle in the Legal Framework of Space Resource Exploitation: Studies from China’s Policy

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 04:53:11 +0000

Space resource exploitation is increasingly becoming feasible, yet current international space law does not provide sufficient legal certainty for such activities. While the outer space treaty (OST) establishes foundational principles, such as the “common interest of mankind,” its provisions remain ambiguous when it comes to resource exploitation. Both the United Nations (UN) and individual States are actively seeking ways to address the legality of space resource utilization. This article argues that the principle of the common interest must guide the evolution of space resource governance. It is not only the basis for other OST principles but also reflects an intrinsic “inner law” governing resource exploitation in global commons. Inner law represents an inherent, objective, and irresistible force that leads the course of historical development, regardless of individual awareness or intention. Under this law, the rule of the jungle does not dictate international relations; zero-sum competition will not persist indefinitely, and mutually beneficial cooperation will ultimately prevail. The regulation of resource exploitation in global commons follows this trajectory, as evidenced by economic theories of managing the commons. China’s “global community with a shared future” concept exemplifies this inner law in policy form, embodying its spirit and principles. Accordingly, it is timely to reaffirm that outer space activities belong to all humankind, and the interests of all nations should be safeguarded, ensuring that every country can participate in, contribute to, and benefit from space activities. To achieve this objective, the committee on the peaceful uses of outer space (COPUOS) should be maintained and strengthened to facilitate international cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. Furthermore, countries currently lacking space capabilities should be encouraged to establish or enhance their own space organizations, ensuring equitable access and participation in space activities.

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Politics and Law, Vol. 19, No. 1

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:34:07 +0000

Reviewer acknowledgements for Journal of Politics and Law, Vol. 19, No. 1, 2026