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2012 Asia and Africa today

U.S. AND CHINA IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: INCREASED RIVALRY by Y.V.Leksyutina, PhD (Political)
Keywords: United States, military strategy, China, Southeast Asia, ASEAN
Increased competition between the U.S. and China in different regions of the world has become a characteristic feature of contemporary US-China relations. Along with growth its comprehensive national power China activates foreign policy and expands its presence in different regions, where the U.S. have wide military, political and economic interests. The highest intensity of the two countries’ regional competition can be seen in Southeast Asia, where initiated by B.Obama’s “return to Asia” policy Washington’s assertiveness comes into conflict with Chinese interests. Different aspects of the U.S. and China presence in Southeast Asia including military and political aspects, trade and investment, development assistance are analyzed in the article.

REVOLT IN THE ARABIAN WORLD: CROPS AND SHOOTS

EGYPT: COLD ECONOMIC SHOWER FILLS THE «ARAB SPRING FEVER» by D.Vinitsky, correspondent of the magazine «Asia and Africa today» in the Arab Republic of Egypt
Keywords: Egypt, «Arab Spring» business, financial crisis
The article analyzes the impact of the «Arab spring» on the economic situation in Egypt. The author concludes that the revolutionary upheavals, unfortunately, led to negative economic consequences, put the country on the brink of financial and economic collapse. Given the current political and economic dynamics, the country of the pyramids will not be able to restore high rates of GDP growth in the nearest future.

WILL “BANGALORE” MIRACLE TAKE PLACE IN SKOLKOVO? by D.O.Shchelkunov
Keywords: India, Bangalore, Skolkovo, information technology, outsourcing, innovative economy
The article dwells on the topical for the modernization of Russian economy issue - the construction of the innovation center Skolkovo, in which the Government plans to create a sort of domestic Silicon Valley.
Drawing the example of Bangalore, the author describes in detail the experience of India in forming positive economic macro environment conducive to the rise of IT industry in the country and points to the inseparable link between the level of IT and the development of other sectors of Indian economy. The final chapter describes the current status of the Skolkovo project, while the main idea of the article is that the key to achieving planned results in Skolkovo is a long-term hard work of the Russian government.

SUDAN: PEACE IN EXCHANGE FOR DIVISION OF THE COUNTRY INTO TWO PARTS: NORTH AND SOUTH SUDAN IN THE FINAL STAGE OF DISINTEGRATION (2005-2011). Part 1 by A.E. Zhukov and S.A.Miftahova
Keywords: Sudan, Southern Sudan, conflict, separatism and self-determination, Abye
On July 9, 2011 the former southern region of Sudan officially became an independent state. The right of the southern region of Sudan to self-determination was provided by Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in January 2005. That Agreement has put an end to the long civil war between the North and the South of the country.
In one of the paragraphs of the Agreement intention of the signatories to make the unity of the country attractive for all southern Sudanese was recorded.
The article describes the CPA and analyzes the progress in its implementation. The authors wonders why for six years, judging by the results of the referendum hold in the South, this idea has not won sympathy of any significant number of Sudanese.

MALAYSIA: THE THORNY PATH TO DEMOCRACY. FAMILIAR SUBJECT AND «PERSONS» by V.A.Pogadayev, PhD (History)
Keywords: Malaysia, democracy, Abdullah Badawi, Najib Razak
The case in question is the experience of political modernization, reforms and uneasy relations between the government and the opposition in Malaysia - one of the most dynamically developing countries in Southeast Asia.

AMERICAN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY TOWARDS IRAN by N.A.Tsvetkova, PhD (History)
Keywords: United States, Iran, diplomacy, the «soft power», digital diplomacy
This article analyzes the ideological confrontation between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. is trying to influence the Iranian society, using information propaganda, training programs, including the involvement of youth in American Internet projects. For its part, Iran’s government is trying to counter U.S. influence and U.S. «soft power» policy aimed at change of the regime in Tehran. To this end, Iran has stepped up moves to extend its influence on culture, religion and values on a regional scale. The author is coming to conclusion that, in contrast to many countries of Asia and Africa, which are greatly influenced by the United States, Iran presents a serious opponent for Americans because of large scale and effectiveness of its cultural policies.

ELECTIONS IN MALI: WHAT CAN WE HOPE FOR AND WHAT SHOULD BE AFRAID OF? by V.R.Filippov, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: Mali, United States, democracy, civil society, elections
Оn the threshold of the presidential elections in Mali scheduled for the April 2012 V.Filippov analyzes the contemporary political landscape. According to some estimates, this country is one of the best samples of a democratic state in West Africa. The author enumerates the most likely candidates for the highest office of the state, defines the most significant achievements in the sphere of politics and appraises their chances for winning.

NIGERIA: INTERACTION OF RELIGION AND POLITICS by M.V.Rybina, PhD (History)
Keywords: Nigeria, Muslim-Christian relations, Sharia
The article tells about uneasy relationship between Muslims and Christians in modern Nigeria. The author dwells on the key moments in the history of these two religions in the country, highlights the problems of interaction between religion and politics. Particular attention is paid to recent clashes because of religious controversy provoked by introduction of Islamic law rules in some northern states of Nigeria.

TEL AVIV: CAPTIVATED BY ITS OWN PROPAGANDA by A.V.Korolev
Keywords: Israel, Palestine, propaganda
Over the years of the Arab-Israeli conflict special propaganda cliches have been developed. They have taken on a great importance although majority of them have very distant relation to reality. Often, the people and leaders of both Arab countries and Israel are in the captivity of their own propaganda, which has a nationalistic and religious coloring.
A.Korolev analyzes ideological cliches used by Israeli propaganda and counterpropaganda for political justification of the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians.

TEACH AND LEARN TO BE A RUSSIAN by N.L.Krylova, Dr.Sc. (History) and N.V.Sukhov
Keywords: Africa, the Russian language, Russians abroad, mixed family
The V Regional Conference of compatriots was held in Casablanca in mid-2011. The representatives from 14 countries gathered in Morocco to discuss the problem of preservation of the Russian world, scattered over large areas of the world, cultural and moral values that were cherished by our ancestors. The authors speaks of the results and decisions made at the Conference.

AT THE ROOT OF THE SOVIET INTELLIGENCE IN THE EAST by P.V.Gusterin
Keywords: foreign intelligence service, recruitment, residency, secret information
The article tells about the difficulties of formation of an intelligence service in the USSR and staffing shortages, which experienced the Soviet secret service in the East. The author recounts the fate of the scientist and intelligence agent Moses Markovic Axelrod.

GOLDEN TEMPLE PADMANABHASVAMI by V.P.Kashin, PhD (History)
Keywords: India, Kerala, Travancore, Padmanabhasvamy
The author tells about a sensational discovery made in one of the Hindu temples of South India. Treasures valued
759 руб. billion have been found. It belonged to the rulers of the Kingdom of Travancore, who had declared themselves «servants» of God Padmanabha. The Supreme Court of the country will make a decision about what should be done with the treasure.

Mr. PIKE IN UGANDA AND MOSCOW by O.I.Teterin, PhD (History)
Keywords: Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, Tito Okello, Novosti, Press Agency, «New Vision», William Pike
In 1985 the author was a head of the Novosti Press Agency «News» office in Kampala and has had a chance to witness two military coups in Uganda and the establishment of the new government, headed by the leader of the National Resistance Movement - Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
O.Teterin talks about his long-term collaboration with William Pike - Editor-in-Chief of the English-language newspaper «New Vision», the main organ of the new government of Uganda.

MEETING MUSEVENI by William Pike
Our magazine publishes a story of a famous Ugandan journalist William Pike about his first meeting with the leader of the National Resistance Movement of Uganda - Yoweri Museveni, in July 1984. At the time, Museveni was in opposition to the regime and carried on an active guerrilla struggle led by the National Resistance Army.

MANY AND THE UBIQUITOUS TAOISM by V.S.Kuznetsov, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: China, Taoism, Lao Tzu, management
The article tells about the features of Taoism in China and its impact on many spheres of life of the Chinese society. The author shares his impressions of his visit to Taoist monasteries and chapels. He notes that the philosophy of Lao Tzu judgment goes beyond the bounds of religious practice. Recently, ideas of Lao-tzu has attracted the attention of Chinese scholars and policy makers as a practical guide for management.

Summary