"Asia and Africa today"
- is a scientificl monthly journal (in Russian)
of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Included in Russian Science Citation Index on
WoS platform, and EBSCO Publishing.
ISSN 0321-5075. Published since July 1957.

 

 "Asia and Africa today" № 1 2011

 

Azia&Afrika 01 2011-s 

 

 Top Problem

WORLD ECONOMY: RESTORATION AND POST-CRYSIS DEVELOPMENT

INVESTSTMENT EXPANTION OF FAST DEVELO- PING COUNTRIES SOVEREIGN  WEALTH  FUNDS:  CHINESE  WAY  by V.V.Samartsev (Vladivostok)
Keywords: People’s Republic of China, wealth funds
At the end of the 20-th century China adopted new policies to support its export-oriented enterprises and attract foreign capital. These measures caused dramatic growth of the state’s foreign exchange reserves. At first they were invested in Treasury bonds, but later Chinese officials expressed their concern of the huge deficit of the US federal budget. In 2007 Beijing announced the creation of the state’s welfare fund - China Investment Corporation. The registered capital of the new organization was 6 563 руб. billion. Its major activities are investments in such sectors as energy, real estate, high technologies, financial sector, crediting, import and export.

A ‘PIGGY BANK’ IS BECOMING AN INVESTMENT TOOL by Y.M.Rusakov, PhD (History)
Keywords: sovereign wealth funds, emerging markets, China, BRIC
In last two decades developing countries have seriously differentiated, above all due to the dynamic growth of China, India and some other emerging markets. Significantly such Asian and African countries as China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Republic of Korea, and Turkey join the G20. Remarkable growth of economies and foreign currencies reserves of the biggest emerging markets have changed the global financial order. The process of transformation of their sovereign wealth funds from safety nets into investment tools is a clear sign the rise of the biggest emerging markets in the world economy. And hunger for investments guarantees further growth of their sovereign wealth funds which may amount to 492 руб. trillion by 2015.

ЕCONOMY OF AFRICA: CHALLENGERS OF THE POST-CRISIS DEVELOPMENT

AFRICA’S PLACE IN THE POST-CRISIS WORLD ECONOMY by L.L. Fituni, Dr.Sc., (Economy), (article 3, articles 1 and 2 read in “Asia and Africa Today”, 2010, № 8, 9)
Keywords: Africa’s place in the world economy, changing role of Africa
The article analyses the affection of the global financial and economic crisis upon Africa’s place and role in the world economy and contemporary international economic relations. The author offers his forecasts of the changing role of Africa in the world economy. He argues that in the foreseeable future the sphere of external economic relations of African countries will rigidly, but non in a lineal way depend on the speed and stability of recovery of the developed economies and domestic economic conjuncture in North American and Western Europe. Africa felt the shocks of the crisis through the influence of global financial markets, international trade, slack investment activity and reduced transfers. Due to the lower level of integration into the most globalised segments of the world economy the recession in Africa was comparatively mild. The slump in GDP was limited to 12-14 months. African countries, which had accumulated significant currency reserves before the crisis, had positive saldos of the balance of payment and budgets without deficits fared better through the crisis.

 

 Policy, Economy

EGYPT: WILL NEW ELECTIONS GIVE THE OLD RESULTS? by I.M.Mokhova, PhD, (Political)
Keywords: Egypt, election, Hosni Mubarak, Mohammed ElBaradei
The author analyzes the main present-day items of internal political life of Egypt. What problems the country will confront with in the near future? Will a new political elite come into power after 30 years of Hosni Mubarak’s ruling? Who will run the country if the present President will not come forward as a candidate? Could political maneuvers of Mohammed ElBaradei expose a danger to Mubarak’s regime?

JAPAN: DIFFICULT ROAD TOWARDS DECENTRALIZATION by D.A.Saprykin
Keywords: Japan, self-government, social development, decentralization
By the end of the XXth century favorable conditions have grown up for decentralization of self-government and turning over considerable amount of authority to institutions of local self-government. The article contains a detail review of history of development of local self- government in Japan as well as the history of interaction of organs of state power with the institutions of local self- government.

THE 4TH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA by L.Y.Prokopenko, PhD (History)
Keywords: Zambia, Rupiah Bwezani Banda
The article contains the analysis of political process in Zambia. On the eve of general election to be held in 2011 the opposition has intensify it’s activity and now political stability in the country depends very much upon the present President R.Banda. The author gives the story of Banda’s drive towards the power, main features of his economic and foreign policy.

NEWS OF ORIENTAL STUDIES
This is the report on the VII-th Congress of Russian orientalists which was devoted to the 110-th anniversary of the Society of orientalists. The Congress has taken place in September 2010 in the Zvenigorod city. Participants of the Congress spoke about the problems and perspectives of oriental’s studies both in the institutes of RAN and in the regional institutions.

 

 Russia and The East

“AFRICAN” BRANCH OF THE SHEREMETEV’S CLAN by N.L. Krylova, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: Sheremetev, emigration, emigration
The author gives the story of the “Morocco” branch of the well known Russian clan of Sheremetev. The heroine of the article is Russian by origin and French by the documents who has lived all his life in Morocco. This is the story of the Russian emigration in Africa.

ORIENTALIST NICHOLAS OF JAPAN by A.S.Akimova (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk)
Keywords: oriental studies, Japan studies, translation, Russian literature, Nicolas of Japan
It was 40 years in 2010 since the canonization of Nicholas of Japan (1836-1912) who was the founder of the Orthodox Church in Japan. The author speaks of the little known scientific heritage of Nicholas of Japan.

 

 Pages of History

THE AFRICAN STORY OF “REAL MAN” by A.S.Zaytsev, PhD (Economy)
Keywords: Republic of Congo, Soviet pilot
The author, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation speaks of an amazing event which has happened in the beginning of the 1990th in the Republic of Congo. The Russian pilot has demonstrated outstanding courage in extremely dangerous situation.

 

 Pages of History

RUSSIA AND INDIA: STATE REGULATION OF HAJJ by M.R.Mukhametzyanova-Duggal, PhD (Political), Z.R.Khabibullina (Ufa)
Keywords: hajj, pilgrimage of Muslims, state regulation
The article is devoted to the Russian and Indian experience of the state participation in the organization and regulation of pilgrimage of Muslims to sacred places in Mecca and Medina (hajj). The author believes that the role of the state is the realization of concrete measures on preparation for pilgrimage, and also in fair distribution of quotas inside of the country in conditions of annual increase of those who wish to make a hajj. One of the main sphere of cooperation between the Russian and Indian scientists on the subject could be an exchange of experience in solving the problems which both Russian and Indian authoritis confront with.

 

 Traditions, Customs, Morals and Manners

BIRTHDAY: CHINESE WAY by N.A.Vostryakova, PhD  (Philology) (Volgograd)  
Keywords: Communicative situation, intercultural  communication, Chinese communicative tradition,  birthday, congratulations  
The article describes how a Russian guest should  congratulate a Chinese with his birthday from the  standpoint of Chinese etiquette: which types of birthdays  are considered more important, whom one should give a  gift, how to choose, package and hand in a gift, what  should be said herewith. This information could improve  intercultural communication of Russians with Chinese,  help them better to understand each other.  

 

 Culture, Literature, Art

FATIMA BHUTTO _ DISSIDENT OF THE DYNASTY by A.A.Suvorova, Dr.Sc. (Philology)
Keywords: Bhutto’s dynasty, Fatima Bhutto
Fatima Bhutto is the Pakistanis journalist and the  writer, the member of the most famous political dynasty.  The tragic history of her family is well known and that’s  why any of her publication immediately becomes a  sensation.  The article contains an analysis of Fatima’s political  views as well as her literary and journalistic talent.  

OTAKU: FOR AND AGAINST. THE THEME OF WAR by E.L.Katasonova, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: Japan, otaku, subculture,
Many works of Japanese popular culture conjure up  the tragedy of war and atomic bombing of Hiroshima and  Nagasaki which has become for Japanese not only physical  but also moral and spiritual catastrophe. Gigantic  pangolin Godzilla represents the bright symbol of that  catastrophe. Scientific and mystical fantastic of sub_  culture otaku is replacing military themes realized in  thousand of volumes of [popular manga and great amount of anime.

 

 Travelings, Meetings, Impresions

JOURNEY TO DWELLING-PLACE OF PEACE by M.S.Kalandarova, PhD (History)
Keywords: R.Tagore, Shantinyketan, Vishva Bhaaratty
Thanks to efforts of great Indian thinker, poet and  artist R. Tagore Shantinyketan which in Sanskrit means  dwelling-place of peace his patrimony turned into  university campus. To_day the campus consists of five  schools, eight colleges and fifteen scientific centers.  Unfortunately nowdays it endures certain difficulties.

 

 Book Review

WINDOW ТО AFRICA by A.B.Davidson, Dr.Sc.
At the end of 2010 Encyclopedia of Africa has been  released (Publishing House “Encyclopedia”, Publishing  Home “INFRA_M), Vol. 1 A_K, Vol. 2 L_Z; Editorial  Board.: AM Vasiliev et al). Two volumes contain as much  as two thousand pages, a lots of maps, tables, color  illustrations.  Four thousands articles cover the latest information  about each African country, different aspects of lives of  those three hundred major nations which live in the  continent, their culture, customs, traditions and changes  of their society.  Special articles are devoted to prominent personalities:  politicians, artists, scientists. Certain items give important  information about the regional groups and the  participation of African states in international  organizations.  350 pages of the «General Survey» contains data on  the regional geography, population, languages of Africa,  philosophy, literature, folklore, theater, cinema,  architecture, fine and decorative art.  Sections on the Russian_African relations, the role of  Africa in international relations, traditional law and  modern constitutional arrangements are of particular  interest for Russian readers.  A great team of authors and editors has invested a lot  of labor in this unique publication which gives a  comprehensive picture of modern Africa.

 

Summary