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2012 Asia and Africa today

ENERGY: THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE

JAPAN IN SEARCH OF REPLACEMENT OF PEACEFUL ATOM by D.V.Streltsov, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: Japan, energy conservation, nuclear power plant accident at Fukushima-1», Cool Biz
After the “triple disaster” in March 11, 2011 - one of the most powerful earthquakes in the history of the country, destructive tsunami and man-made disaster at the plant “Fukushima-1” - Japan has found itself in a situation of severe energy crisis.
Plans for removing from service most of the atomic power plants due to an accident put on the agenda the following problem: what could replace atomic power which provides about 30% of total electricity production in the country.
Japan seeks to limit significantly their energy needs, focusing on those areas where energy consumption is the greatest - industrial production, transportation, office and household sector.
Special attention is given to the so called Supercool biz, which means energy-saving measures in these sectors.

REVOLT IN THE ARABIAN WORLD: CROPS AND SHOOTS

“ARAB SPRING”: SYMBIOSIS OF GLOBALIZATION AND ISLAMIC TRADITIONS by A.D.Savateyev, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: “Arab spring”, historical backgrounds of revolt, a serious lesson for elite
The author makes an attempt to demonstrate historical backgrounds and cultural factors which caused mass protests in the North African and Middle East countries. These factors include traditions of Islamic political and spiritual culture as well as the influence of the Western culture of formal democracy. They also include the so called demonstrational effect, i.e. high standards of life and consumption in Europe and North America. Complicated interaction between Islamic culture and globalization in its western format determines to a large extent causes and character of these revolts.
The author believes that these events should serve as a serious lesson, first of all for the Russian political elite.

UKRAINE, RUSSIA AND EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST by K.M.Truyevtsev, PhD (Philosophy)
Keywords: “Arab spring”, North African and Middle East events, reaction of Ukraine
The author, who has participated in the international conference «Ukraine and the Middle East: Issues, Challenges and Prospects for Development of Cooperation» which was held in Odessa in the end of 2011, presents the most interesting opinions expressed at the conference by leading Ukraine scientists, whose expertise include problems of the Arabic world. The author notes that Ukraine is taking a special interest in Middle East events. Some of experts find a certain similarity between these events and the «orange» revolution, the Kiev Maidan. The others much more concerned with perspectives Ukrainian-Arab relations, possibility of preserving of Ukrainian interests in this important region. Characteristically, that all Ukrainian participants took the position of Russia into consideration.

CASAMANCE: THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES by L.M.Sadovskaya, PhD (History)
Keywords: Senegal, Casamance, conflict, separatism, armed movement, ethnic groups
Casamance is one of hot spots in Sub-Saharian Africa. Since 1982 the separatist Movement of the Democratic Forces of Casamance (DDCK) has been fighting for a wide autonomy of this territory, which is a part of Senegal. Historical, ethnic, socio-political and economic reasons of this armed conflict are analyzed in the article. The author dwellers on the actions of the government aimed at settlement of this conflict, taking into account the transformation inside DDCK itself which took place during the last years.

AGRARIAN ECONOMY OF CHINA: DEVELOPMENT RESULTS IN THE 11th FIVE-YEARS PLAN (2006-2010) by L.D.Bonnie, Dr.Sc. (Economy), part 2
Keywords: China, rural economy, food security, comparative efficiency, modernization, selection, mechanization, macro-regulation
The article analyses the achievements of Chinese agricultural sector for the last five years, as well as the main factors which ensured undoubted success. The agrarian economy has definitely played an important role in the government’s Anti-crisis Programm (2008-2009): favorable situation in agriculture prevailed, food supply was sufficient, social stability preserved. Most evident successes have been achieved in production of grain. The leaders and scientists of China call last five years the “gold period” of rural economy. All this has been the result of a change of the mode of development of Chinese agriculture.

WOMEN  AND  POWER  IN  AFRICA  by L.Y.Prokopenko, PhD (History)
Keywords: Africa, women, power, gender symmetry
Women occupy all the more noticeable place in the policy of the Southern Africa states. This gradually evolving phenomenon still have little impact on improving the socio- economic situation of women and, therefore, on the development of society as a whole. The achievements of Sub- Saharian states in the field of gender equality has been the result of more than 15 years of efforts of the state and public organizations. At the same time in Botswana significant achievements of democracy have not become a guarantee of gender symmetry in politics. There are differences betweenthe political-legal norms, declarations and realities of life, which are confined not only to the countries of the African continent, but also to many other societies in transition.

EDUCATION OF MIGRANT’S CHILDREN IN CHINA by M.G.Guleva
Keywords: China, education, children of migrants
According to the latest reports, China has about 200 million migrants living all over the country. For quite a long time the authorities did not pay enough attention to the education of migrant’s children. Due to the system of urban and rural residence permits. As the number of rural residents, who fled from their villages to the cities, increased greatly, some experts began discussing a phenomenon of a new “social layer” in China and, therefore, new challenges the society will have to face.

INDIAN MOSAIC: IS THE COUNTRY DOOMED FOR GREAT FUTURE? by N.A.Listopadov, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: India, society, socio-economic policy, education
Our regular author N.A.Listopadov has lived and worked for many years in such amazing countries as Myanmar and Nepal. These relatively small states are side by side with great India, in which he is working for two years now.
The article presents an attempt of the author to comprehend everything he has seen in this wonderful, fast growing country, with its enormous spiritual, historical and cultural heritage.

SOUTH AFRICA IN THE AFRICAN AND WORLD INVESTMENT MARKET by V.A.Sidorov
Keywords: Republic of South Africa, investments, export of capital, direct foreign investments
This article considers the current state and the future of South Africa foreign trade, which has always been important for South Africa economy. First, the article provides a short historical overview describing how the role of trade in the economy of South Africa changed over time. Second, it analyzes the structure of South Africa exports and how it has changed. Third, the geographical distribution of trade is shows - which trading partners are more important, and whose influence is rising or declining. Overall, it seems in the future distribution of South Africa trade will continue to change moving away from the West and towards the developing world (primarily China, India and African countries).

ARUNA ASAF ALI - THE SYMBOL OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE by E.S.Yurlova, PhD (History)
Keywords: India, fight for independence, Aruna Asaf Ali, Gandhi, Nehru
Side by side with Gandhi and Nehru, a great role in fight for liberation of India has been played by Aruna Asaf Ali who has become a national heroine and a symbol of unbending patriotism. The author has been a friend of Aruna Asaf Ali for many years. She presents the story of life of this wonderful woman.

PORDJA IN THE SOUTH OF ORISSA by A.V.Ivanov
Keywords: India, tribes of Orissa, social stricture, wedding rules, traditional believes
Some traditions of the Pordja tribe which is living in the South of the Indian state Orissa are dwelled upon. The author has spent several months in a village where people of that tribe are living and gathered material about traditional structure of their society, wedding customs and religious beliefes.

PEOPLES OF THE OMO VALLEY: ETHNOCULTURAL SHIFTS OF THE 21st CENTURY by K.V.Babayev, PhD (Philology)
Keywords: Ethiopia, Omo Valley, ethnic groups, ethnography, traditional costume, ethno cultural processes
The article provides a summary of the fieldtrip to South Ethiopia aimed at analyzing the influence the modern civilization on the culture of various tribal groups of the Omo river valley. In particular, changes in customs and traditions, ethnic costume, material culture and social structure are surveyed.

THE WORLD OF STORIES WRITTEN BY OKTAY ANAR by O.V.Kareva
Keywords: Turkish postmodernism, Oktay Anar
The author introduces to our readers Oktay Anar, one of the representatives of the second wave of Turkish post modernism.

THE STORIES OF AFRASIABA
We are publishing extract from of Oktay Anar’s novel “The Stories of Afrasiaba” translated from Turkish by O.Kareva.

Keywords: Turkey, Russian-Turkish relations, the Kyrgyz Republic, M.Ziganshin
The article is a review of the collection titled “The Way Paved With Heart” published by Institute for Oriental Studies, RAS, in commemoration of M.K.Ziganshin, the Russian diplomat who specialized in studying Turkey, Central Asia region and Russian-Turkish relations.

 Summary