“Global South” is undoubtedly a broad term that typically refers to developing countries with varying degrees of economic, cultural and political influence. The rise of the Global South signifies the importance of reassessing the existing international order. In terms of international relations theory, this should be an innovative, progressive and reflective field of study. However, this research is predominantly led by the Western mainstream international relations theories. This often neglects the internal and external factors in the development processes of other countries, the formation of relationship frameworks, foreign policy formulation, and the need of foreign relations. Despite the ongoing and intense debate over the innovation of international relations theory, it is difficult to see it keeping pace with contemporary developments. Various schools and thoughts frequently innovate only within their foundational frameworks. Therefore, for Global South countries, there is the need for international relations theories that can reflect their specific needs and actual conditions. This does not only require breaking away from the westcentric theoretical framework, but ensuring that the innovation process is aligned with practical realities that recognize mutual interests and encompass both local and global perspectives. This approach should involve a comprehensive reflection on international relations, allowing innovation of international relations theories to genuinely “enter” the Global South countries.

This article examines the overseas corporate social responsibility (CSR) patterns of Chinese international contractors (CICs). Adopting an institutional and political economy approach, a unique dataset is constructed with country-specific contents drawn from CSR-related reports and website information of 50 top CICs. This dataset provides a foundation for systematic content analysis of CICs’ overseas CSR practices, revealing that both political legitimacy-seeking and strategic competitiveness-seeking motivations drive CICs’ CSR activities abroad, characterized by the prioritization of customer and community engagement. The findings highlight the coexistence of the exogenous pressures for the national image-building purpose and the endogenous awareness of CSR strategic importance for corporate internationalization. The hybridization of political and economic rationales is presented as the defining feature of CICs’ current overseas CSR patterns, with the balance between them being determined by stakeholder type and internal business needs influenced by corporate internationalization experience.

This research explores the relationship between the independent variables (need for achievement, risk-taking, family support, economic factors, and the dependent variable of women’s enterprises’ success) and examines the moderating influence of socio-cultural factors. A survey-based methodology was adopted. One hundred sixty-nine small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Palestinian West Bank were surveyed using structured questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted by using the Smart-PLS program. The results indicate that women entrepreneurs’ success in SMEs is positively and significantly impacted by the need for achievement as an internal factor and economic factors and family support as external factors. Furthermore, sociocultural factors did not show any significant moderating influence. By gaining knowledge about the relationship between internal and external factors and the success of women-owned SMEs, this study adds to the body of literature already in existence. These factors can be considered in the success of these enterprises, particularly in an environment full of political and economic fluctuations. Furthermore, the research is said to be the first of its type in Palestine, particularly concerning SMEs run by women. It also supports entrepreneurs by providing them with resources that might aid in the growth and success of their businesses.

Objectives: This research aimed to empirically examine the transformative impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption on financial reporting quality in Jordanian banking, with internal controls as a hypothesized mediation mechanism. Methodology: Quantitative survey data was collected from 130 bank personnel. Multi-item reflective measures assessed AI adoption, internal controls, and financial reporting quality—structural equation modelling analysis relationships between constructs. Findings: The research tested four hypotheses grounded in agency and contingency theories. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated sound measurement models. Structural equation modelling revealed that AI adoption significantly transformed financial reporting quality. The mediating effect of internal controls on the AI-quality relationship was supported. Specifically, the path from AI adoption to quality was significant, indicating a positive impact. Despite internal controls strongly predicting quality, its mediating effect significantly shaped the degree of transformation driven by AI adoption. The indirect effect of AI on quality through internal controls was also significant. Findings imply a growing diffusion of AI applications in core financial reporting systems. Practical implications: Increasing AI applications focus on holistically transforming systems, reflecting committing adoption. Jordanian banks selectively leverage controls to moderate AI-induced transformations. Originality/value: This study provides essential real-world insights into how AI is adopted and impacts the Jordanian banking sector, a key player in a fast-evolving developing economy. By examining the role of internal controls, it deepens our understanding of how AI works in practice and offers practical advice for integrating technology effectively and improving information quality. Its mixed methods, unique context, and focus on AI’s impact on organizations significantly enrich academic literature. Recommendations: Banks should invest in integrated AI architectures, strategically strengthen critical controls to steer transformations, and incrementally translate AI innovations into core processes.

This study critically examines the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) delimitation and regional cooperation efforts impacting Greco-Turkish relations in the Eastern Mediterranean, focusing on their influence on both nations’ maritime security definitions. With the increasing strategic significance of maritime areas, Greek and Turkish perspectives on security are becoming ever more significant. This paper posits that the interrelations between Greece and Turkiye significantly shape their respective maritime security frameworks. Through a comprehensive review, we juxtapose the evolution of general security concepts with the specific developments in maritime security as perceived by each country. This approach reveals the profound impact of bilateral tensions on maritime security perceptions and policies. The analysis extends to the implications of these dynamics for regional stability and international maritime law, underpinning the urgent need for a collaborative and equitable approach to resolve ongoing maritime disputes. This research contributes to the broader field of international relations by highlighting the intricate relationship between historical conflicts, national security paradigms, and maritime sovereignty claims, proposing new directions for future research in regional security cooperation and conflict resolution.