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Regime analysis has become a popular approach in International Relations theory and in international policy studies. However, current regime models exhibit some shortcomings with regard to (1) addressing non-state actors, and in particular nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), (2) the balancing of actor and structure in analyses and (3) the conceptualization of social and political change in the international system. To overcome these shortcomings, this article constructs a regime model on the basis of the structuration theory of Anthony Giddens. In doing so, it takes a position in the agent-structure debate that has recently overwhelmed the study of International Relations, but `positioning' is not the main objective of this article, as it particularly aims at expanding regime analysis. The article first presents neoinstitutionalist, neorealist and political economy models on regimes. It then challenges their main focus on states as well as their ontological claims. From that discussion, structuration theory is presented as a means to address these issues more properly and, subsequently, an alternative model is proposed. Finally, this `structurational' regime model will be discussed.

"This book examines Hezbollah's transition from a domestic into a regional armed non-state actor (ANSA). Taking its point of departure in Hezbollah's historiography on the military and political levels in Lebanon, it focuses on the participation of Hezbollah's troops in Syria's sect-coded civil war. Initially limited, Hezbollah's intervention in the Syrian conflict gradually increased into a full-scale engagement across vast swathes of Syrian territory, with Hezbollah instrumentalizing its sectarian (Shiʻa) identity to justify its engagement. Sect-centric narratives and victimhood were a mere tool for what was a geopolitical confrontation, and Hezbollah's involvement launched it to becoming a regional ANSA. The book outlines that this transition was only plausible because of the interplay between three factors: Hezbollah's sectarian mobilization and instrumentalization of its sectarian identity; the shift into a quasi-army combining classical with guerrilla tactics and formations; and its embedding as a partner in the axis which now extends from Beirut to Tehran. It was in 2018 that a set of conditions, impossible to reproduce, allowed Hezbollah to reach its culmination on both the domestic and regional theatres. This book shows that ANSAs are playing prominent roles in the regional order in the Middle East. Meticulously researched, Hezbollah is a comprehensive study ideal for upper-level undergraduates and above with an interest in Middle East studies, Middle East politics and international relations"--

"This book comprehensively discusses the role that non-state actors play in the Arctic and assesses the normative role of these actors. Beyond any organised forum, there are actors that have a significant impact on the way the Arctic is developed, adjudicated, managed, perceived, presented and represented. This book complements the literature on non-state actors in international law and international security, world politics and international relations and provides a geographical account of their role for the Arctic. The book content is not limited to a specific discipline, but takes into account different approaches to the topic. This means that it contains three types of contributions: research articles, shorter research notes and commentaries. While the research articles constitute the main body of the work, it is also the research notes which provide an insight into issues related to the topic of the book:--

Ukraine's social security system faces significant difficulties. The challenges of the war add to the previously existing economic and demographic problems. The painful issue of ensuring social standards of the population in conditions of shortage of funds brings to the forefront ways to reduce the burden on budgets. In this regard, non-state social security is of great importance. In view of this, it is important to study the international experience of the functioning of non-state social security systems. The purpose of the work was to analyze the effectiveness of the Ukrainian system of non-state social security in comparison with the corresponding systems of other countries and to study international standards. The methodological basis of this research used such methods as: historical, statistical, comparative legal, formal legal and emergency method. In the conclusions of the case, the peculiarities of the non-state pension system of Ukraine are explained and the problems it faces are investigated. Several mechanisms that can lead to an increase of its efficiency and popularity among the population are considered. It was remarked that it is necessary to introduce changes, including through the implementation of international legal documents.