Journal of Social Sciences

7-12

Authors: Rachel B. ASAGBA, Catherine O. CHOVWEN, Aderemi I. ALARAPE, Samson F. AGBEROTIMI

Predictors of drug involvement among secondary school students in Ibadan were examined in this study. Two hundred and four (204) students comprising 113 males and 91 females, whose age ranged between 13 and 25 years (M = 16.32, S.D. = 1.81) participated in the study. Data collected with a structured questionnaire were subjected to independent sample t-test, and regression analysis. Psychosocial factors (life purpose, need for achievement and self-esteem) significantly predicted drug abuse [F (6, 113) = 7.75; p < .01, R2 = .29]. Participants with low score on life purpose reported higher substance abuse than those with high score on life purpose, t (161) = 2.62, p <.05 ; those with low score on the need for achievement reported higher substance abuse than those with high score on the need for achievement, t (162) = 4.09, p < .01 ; those with low score on the need for achievement reported higher substance abuse than those with high score on the need for achievement t (162) = 2.62, p <.05; female participants reported higher substance abuse than male counterparts, t (176) = - 4.05, p <.01). In conclusion, it is expedient that efforts be intensified on actions that will reawaken the strive for excellence and sense of self worth through engagement in self development activities, thereby minimizing the prevalence of substance abuse among Nigerian youths.

19-23

Authors: Sopio GABELAIA

The democratic system of governance reform is one of the main directions of the establishment and development of the civil society. Civil society is any activity, any initiative of individuals, spontaneously created self-governance and citizens based associations and organizations, which are supported and protected by the law of the state in their work. Tocqueville first presented civil society to the West as voluntary, non-political social organizations that strengthen democracy preventing a tyranny of the majority. Associations, which can be “religious, moral, serious, futile, general or restricted, enormous or diminutive”, protect diversity by uniting equal but weak individuals into powerful groups. These associations prevent the fragmentation of society by forcing men to consider the affairs of others and to work with their neighbors. In different epoch and in different situations the term “civil society” may be understood in different ways, it may be freedom of speech, wide field of opportunities, democracy, unity of some interests, communication, globalization, activity, governmental and non-governmental associations. In order to get effective functioning of the mechanism, the main thing is to inform society and earn good reputation and trust. All citizens should be acknowledged with the main point of civil society, their functions, duties, obligations and when they can apply to them and what kind of problems they are concerned with. Most important, is more communication, and civil society itself should be interested in providing them with more information about their job, aims, plans and do their best to make citizens get involved in any business or activities. This communication should be bilateral, active and effective. The purpose of the paper is to discuss what kind of prehistory civil society had and how great its role is in the development processes of democratic governance.

31-34

Authors: Natalia BERUASHVILI

Current European Security Strategy was adopted in December 2003. It was drafted within the understanding of geopolitical situation and security threats existed especially after 9/11 events. During the period of more than thirteen years, numerous geopolitical changes took place due to the situation in Syria, Iraq, conflict in Ukraine, recent events in Europe including, migration of Syrian refugees, terrorist attacks in Belgium, France and Turkey. The changes in the international context should have significant consequences for the EU strategic security approach. In this paper, I will review main aspects of the EU Security Strategy, key challenges and the need for its revision, discuss EU Security Strategy and its relationship with Georgia as an example of collaboration with partner countries.

41-56

Authors: Amiran KAVADZE

The article sheds the light on the Georgian-Russian long negotiations at the Russia’s bid to join WTO. The paper discloses details and strategies of bilateral trade diplomacy, offers more in depth analyses and better understanding of reasons and circumstances which led to the long negotiations cycle and time-to-time breaking of entire Russia’s WTO accession process. It is shown that the crisis in relations between Tbilisi and Moscow in most cases was politically motivated and often negatively affected the trade talks. The author tries to respond to speculations about Georgia’s “troublemaking” at the WTO deliberations, which was caused by the lack of information and understanding of the background the Georgia-Russia standoff and diplomatic strategies and tools practiced by the both countries. The current work at the certain degree fills the gap in knowledge of “big country–small country” trade dispute resolution, explores better understanding of negotiations process and its peculiarities as well as outcome of 11 years of start-stop talks. The research concentrates on long pending customs checkpoint issues as well as “costs and benefits” questions and concludes that the signed Agreement on customs administration and monitoring of trade across the contested borders and the enforcement process did not meet Tbilisi’s high expectations in five years time since its conclusion.

65-69

Authors: Tamta TSKHOVREBADZE

Although nearly two decades have passed since the USSR crumbled, its legacy is still helping to shape security within, and relations between, former member states, as well as their relations with other states in the world. Already back in the 90’s of the past century, it seemed like peace and security should have been within the interests of not just this region, but of the whole world, notably due to region’s geographic location and geo-strategic potential and its increasing importance as the main link of transport and communication projects. Apart from the geopolitical significance, the stability of Post-Soviet Space is imperiled by numerous domestic and transnational security challenges, such as: unresolved conflicts, socio-economic hardships, organized crime, trafficking and migration. The scale and scope of these transnational problems require a coordinated action. Since the region is intensely divided by conflicts and the competing interests of regional powers, the region would benefit from a greater cross-border collaboration. However, regional cooperation is not as well developed as it could be, hampering economic development, security and further destabilizing the area. This became even more important after the tragic events of 9/11, which made it apparent, that there exist no conflicts or crises of more and less important and these problems could have been resolved only through joint cooperation at the international and regional levels.