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2013 Asia and Africa today

 CHINA, INDIA AND THE U.S.: THE CORRELATION OF FORCES IS CHANGING by F.N.Yurlov, Dr.Sc. (History)

 Keywords: global crisis, India, China, USA

 In time of the global economic and financial crisis relations between India, China and USA are of paramount importance, especially given the recession in Europe and a sluggish economy in USA and Japan. Despite the crisis, India and China are experiencing high rates of economic growth. However, they are not isolated from the global economy, and each country has its own response to its manifestation.

AFRICA AND WAR IN LIBYA by V.G.Shubin, Dr.Sc. (History)

Keywords: African Union, conflict in Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, UN Security Council resolutions, NATO and Libya, military intervention

 The tragedy in Libya has found versatile reflection on the pages of our magazine. In this particular article we consider first of all the position taken with respect to that tragedy by African countries and its continental organization - the African Union (AU). Particular attention the author devotes to analysis of the activity undertaken by the Western countries and by the authoritative international organizations, such as the UN and the Arab League. Without that analysis the picture of the military conflict in Libya would be incomplete.

MYANMAR-2012: THE ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CONFLICT IN THE SOUTH-WEST REGIONS by A.A.Simoniya, PhD (Economy)

Keywords: Myanmar, ethno-religious conflict, Rohingya Muslims, Buddhists

The article traces the history of interconfessional tensions between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine State (former Arakan) in the South-West of the country. In

2012 as a result of inter-communal violence about 180 people from both sides were killed and almost one hundred thousand people were displaced. During the riots a number of Muslim mosques and Buddhist temples were burned.

Due to prolonged mutual hostility thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled from their homes to seek refuge in neighboring countries. Myanmar government does not recognize Rohingya indigenous people, they are not regarded as the country’s minority. Government considers them to be illegal immigrants from South Asia, a legacy of the colonial past.

TALIBAN’S INFORMATION WAR: WASHINGTON TOOK UP A DEFENSE POSITION by N.A.Tsvetkova, PhD (History). St. Petersburg State University. Part 2 (Part 1 in “Asia and Africa today”, 2013, № 1)

Keywords: Afghanistan, information warfare, public diplomacy, the U.S., Pakistan

In connection with the withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan in 2014, the efforts in the humanitarian and socio-economic sectors to ensure stability and sustainable development of the country in the so-called transition period are becoming more and more important. A special role is played by the information component. Hailed by Obama in December 2009, a new strategy in Afghanistan includes implementation of a set of measures against the spread of ideology promoted by the Taliban movement and Al Qaeda.

INDIA’S POSITION IN WORLD EXPORTS OF SERVICES by N.V.Galishcheva, PhD (Economy). Part 1

Keywords: trade in services, export of services, import, India, South Asia

Technological changes, the ever-increasing mobility of labor, lower transport and communication costs, and the growth of world trade contributed to acceleration of development of trade in services. The world economy of the end of the XXth - beginning of XXIst century has become largely service economy. One of the most distinctive features of India’s economic development since the early 1990s is a significant increase of its foreign trade in services, which is due, above all, to rapid development of information and communication technologies. In the 1990s-2000s manufacturing of software, outsourcing of business process, E-commerce, telecom sector of India were growing at an unprecedented pace, steadily overtaking the growth in merchandise trade.

 UNIFIED ENERGY SYSTEM (UES) OF GULF COUNTRIES by A.Yu.Sharova

 Keywords: Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), electricity

 The GCC countries are next to complete the forming of the Unified Energy System, which will combine the energy systems of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia. In this article the author describes the main phases of forming of the UES of the GCC, identified goals and objectives of the project, analyzed the technical, legal and economic aspects of the UES, outlining the critical issues and challenges facing the unified energy system of the Persian Gulf.

 BURUNDI: RESULTS OF ETHNIC CONFLICT by L.M.Sadovskaya, PhD (History)

 Keywords: Burundi, Tutsi, Hutu, ethnic conflict

 Until recently the modern history of Burundi was characterized by sporadic, continuous conflict between the two ethnic groups - the Hutu and Tutsi. The ethnic conflict has plagued the country since it gained independence from Belgium in 1962, at a great cost in human life and property. Few Burundians escaped the ensuing anarchy into which the country was plunged when this interethnic violence and a bloody conflagration flared anew in 1995-1996. In addition to a chronological account of the history of the inter-ethnic conflicts, the article describes the main aspects of ethnic policy of the authorities of Burundi in all those years.

 ETHNO-CONFESSIONAL DESTABILIZING FACTOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST by E.I.Ustinov, PhD (History)

Keywords: Middle East, ethno-religious factor, mechanism of provoking and restraining of ethnic and religious conflicts

Alongside with socio-political and economic causes of the crisis that led to drastic structural changes in the political landscape of the Middle East, the role of the ethno-religious factor is steadily increasing.

 The paper analyzes the process of integration of ethnic and religious groups in the region. It is noted that this process is going on slower and less effectively than expected. Stimulating and provoking of inter-clan, inter-religious and inter-ethnic conflicts, and fragmentation of the region on this basis becomes an effective way of redistribution of the spheres of influence between the major global players. It gives them an additional chance to ensure free access to regional energy resources and, ultimately, to their global supremacy.

RUSSIAN KOREANS: FACE OF ETHNIC IDENTITY by E.V.Kim

Keywords: Korean diaspora, ethnic identity, integration, host community, country of origin

 For millions of people, ethnic identity is something which is granted and not to be questioned. In modern society, the role of ethnicity, the process of ethnic revival associated with the desire of many people to preserve their identity, to emphasize the uniqueness of their culture and national character. The author introduces the reader to the history of the formation of the territory of modern Russian Korean ethnic communities, analyzes the diaspora policy of the Republic of Korea towards Korean diaspora, gives a list of modern nationwide and international Korean organizations.

YURI ROERICH - KNIGHT OF CULTURE by I.V.Kotenko

 Keywords: International Center of Roerich, Conference “110 years since the birth of Yu.N. Roerich”

 Yuri Roerich was one of the greatest orientalists, linguists, and compilers of encyclopedias of the 20th century. He spoke fluently more than 1 353 руб.pean and Asian languages and dialects, was a brilliant expert in Eastern culture, religion and philosophy. Roerich devoted his life to the study of language, literature, history, archeology and ethnography of Central and South Asia. He represented that synthetic trend in Oriental Studies in which Russia could justly take pride. Memorizing the 110th anniversary since the birth of the great scientist the International Scientific Public Conference took place in the Moscow International Center of Roerich.

WITH DREAMS, DICTIONARY AND BRAVERY by O.I.Teterin, A.N.Ivanov. Part 1

 Keywords: Soviet military interpreters, Tanzania (Zanzibar), Egypt, Yemen

 In this and subsequent issues of our magazine we offer to our readers the memories of people who had the opportunity to work as a military translators in different parts of the world.  In the first part of the cycle of memoirs Oleg Teterin, the First Deputy Editor-in-Chief of “Asia and Africa Today” magazine, who served in 1965-1966 in a military camp on the Zanzibar island, and Anatoly Ivanov, a senior fellow at the Center of Scientific Information and International Relations of the Institute for African Studies, who worked in Egypt in 1960-1964, are sharing their memories.

ALGERIAN MODERN CINEMA by A.S.Shakhov, PhD (History)

 Keywords: Algeria, movies, Yamina Bachir, Amor Hakkar, Rochd Djigouadi, Abdelkrim Bahloul

 A characteristic feature of Algerian cinema today is a tendency to reflect as much as possible the realities of modern life. Among actual problems raised today in the films are religious fanaticism, the position of women in society, socio- economic, moral issues, etc. “Portraits” of several modern feature films, presented in this paper, demonstrates simple, but layered in content movies, which fully and accurately reflect the spirit of modern Algerian reality.

 MUSLIM ETIQUETTE AND RULES OF CONDUCT by Haifa Trabelsi (Tunisia)

 Keywords: etiquette, Arab and Muslim countries, official- business relations, diplomatic protocol

 The author tries to reveal a number of issues related to the peculiarities of the Muslim etiquette, rules of conduct, which diplomats, foreign businessmen, representatives of the business community are recommended to follow during the official talks with partners, at summits or in everyday situations, in direct contact with representatives of the Muslim ethnic groups. Particular attention is drawn to some of the elements of diplomatic protocol existing in different Muslim country, traditions and customs.

RESOURCE WARS: BACK TO THE FUTURE by V.A.Isaev, Dr.Sc. (Economy)

Review of the book “Africa. Resource wars” written by L.L.Fituni, Dr.Sc. (Economy) (Moscow, Institute for African Studies, 2012, 248 p.).

MADAGASCAR: CONTINUE TO LEARN THE COUNTRY by E.V.Safonova

Review of the works by Russian and Malagasy scientists published in a book titled “In the mysterious country of Madagascar” (ed. L.Kartashova). (M., Econ-inform, 2012, 195 p.)

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