"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" № 10 2010

 

Azia&Afrika 10 2010-s 

 

 Top Problem

THE WORLD ECONOMY: RESTORATION AND POST-CRISIS DEVELOPMENT

CHINA IS BUYING UP RESOURCES by V.V.Samartsev*
Keywords: China, economic development, raw materials, resources
At the end of the 20th century China adopted a new policy 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 US federal budget. In 2007 Beijing announced 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 include investments in such sectors of economy as energy, real estate, high technologies, financing, crediting, import and export.

 

50 YEARS OF “THE YEAR OF AFRICA”

AFRICA: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS by L.V.Geveling
A well-known Africanist scholar, professor, deputy director of the Institute of Asian and African (The Moscow State University) L.V. Geveling has answered the questions of current importance concerning development of the African continent. The scientist presented his analysis of the problems of political instability, «black racism», economic growth and poverty, exploration and mining of row materials.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN AFRICA’S CONFLICTS by O.B.Gromova, PhD (History) (Part 2, part one was published in № 8)
Keywords: ethno-political conflicts, violence, armed resistance
In some African states tens of thousands of children and teenagers have been killed, wounded, maimed and traumatized during military operations. Millions of children in «hot zones» have becoming homeless, forcibly displaced persons and refugees, subjected to psychological and sexual violence.
The phenomenon of child soldiers is a real disaster for African countries According to the human rights organization Human rights watch, almost one third of the world’s contingent of child soldiers are those in Africa, and the largest number of «children’s» army until recently operated in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The African states are confronted with an urgent task: not only stop as soon as possible all armed conflicts on the continent, but also to reintegrate the children into civilian life. Obviously they would fail to do that without assistance. The international community must play a key role in solving the problem.

 

 Policy, Economy

ISLAMIZATION, ISLAMISM AND EXTREMISM

INDIA. WILL THE THIRD “WAVE” OF TERRORISM ARRIVE? By K.A.Likhachev (St. Petersburg)
Keywords: India, Pakistan, Islamic extremism, radicalism, terrorism
During the first decade of the XXI c. the nature of activities of Islamic extremist organizations in India has undergone significant changes. This is largely due to the general evolution of the phenomenon of the international terrorism.
The author examines in detail two waves of greatest activity of Islamists in the north-western India in the last decade, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. Not the last role in supporting the radical terrorist groups in India belongs to Pakistan. Preventing a new wave of terrorism of Islamic extremists in India will depend largely on whether Islamabad will be able to curb those forces in Pakistan’s military institution, which encourage their actions.

 

 Point of View

REGIONAL SECURITY. KOREAN PENINSULA: DANGEROUS GAMBLES*

In May of 2010 tensions between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea caused by the sinking of S. Korean ship have attracted the attention of the international community and UN Security Council to long- standing potential hotbed of armed conflict with a nuclear dimension.

NUCLEAR INTRIGUE OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA. WILL THE NEGOTIATIONS BRING A SOLUTION? by A.V.Vorontsov, PhD (History), P.Agaltsov
Keywords: North Korea nuclear issue, the six-party talks
The North Korean nuclear issue has become in recent years the subject of increased concern by the international community and the constant topic of discussion in a multilateral format, as well as in bilateral contacts between the States concerned.
The article is about the complexities of political settlement. The authors examine the methods which could be used by the world community in order to influence upon Pyongyang and make him give up the plans of making the nuclear weapons. North Korea adheres to firm position refusing to turn down its nuclear program, despite the promised economic benefits or compensation.

THE GHOSTS ARE COMING BACK FROM THE COLD by Y.M.Rusakov, PhD (History)
The nuclear nonproliferation regime more and more is becoming like a house of cards. The Korean nuclear problem probably is the most vexing. North Korean leadership assumes that 6-8 nuclear warheads will guaranty its survival. Washington neoconservative ‘gang of four’ (VP D.Cheney, D.Rumsfeld, P.Wolfovitz and M.Bolton) played right into Pyongyang’s hands with threats of preemptive nuclear strike (so called Global Strike) against then nonnuclear N. Korea and series of nuclear war scenarios which dramatically lowered nuclear threshold and crossed the line between nuclear and conventional weapons. Both sides have proved to be wrong. N. Korea tested 2 nuclear devices. But its present status of nuclear power, albeit ‘illegal’, almost automatically made it the target of US lightning preemptive nuclear strike under any administration including Obama’s which confirmed the policy of negative security guaranties for nonnuclear nations. Actually N. Korea’s security rests much more on its geopolitical situation, especially China’s backing.
One may only hope that all 6 participants of the talks on Korean denuclearization problem, above all the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States, will exercise enough patience and flexibility to solve this problem.

 

 Opinion Of International Expert

PUBLIC AND POLITICAL LIFE OF BURUNDI by David Rawson (USA)
The article is based on the report made by the Ambassador of the USA at the Ambassadorial Seminar on Burundi organized by the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, US Department of State and the National Intelligence Council of the USA. The author writes about his own experience in dealing with Burundi’s problems, analyzes political and social structures of the country, causes and effects of autocratic rule, genocide and civil wars which were particularly fractious and bloody in the recent history of Burundi.

 

KUWAIT YESTERDAY AND TODAY

“WE WANT TO DEVELOP COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA” by Muhammad al-Sabah
The Vice Premier of the State of Kuwait, the Foreign Minister Mohammad al-Sabah has visited Moscow on an official visit in May 2010. He has held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and has had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Chechnya O. Baysultanov.
In his interview given to our magazine M.As-Sabah has expressed his opinion regarding plans construct nuclear power plants in Kuwait, the development of relations between the Gulf states and the prospects for cooperation with Russia.

IRAQI AGGRESSION AGAINST KUWAIT IN THE MIRROR OF THE SOVIET MASS MEDIA (AUGUST 1990 - APRIL 1991)* by A.M.Vasiliev, corresponding member of the RAS.
Keywords: Kuwait, Iraq, the aggression, the Soviet media
The tragic events of 1990-1991 associated with the aggression of Iraq against Kuwait and followed by the Gulf War, which resulted with the liberation of Kuwait and the defeat of the Iraqi war machine up to now attract attention of researchers.
The reason is clear: the war 1990-1991, UN-approved, genetically related to the one does not legitimate the invasion the United States and its allies in Iraq in March 2003 and the consequences of this invasion. The situation in the Persian Gulf area remains tense and fraught with a new armed conflict - this time with Iran.
The author reminds that the Iraqi invasion in Kuwait and military campaign of the coalition in 1990-1991 has been a major international theme of the Soviet mass media of that period. Exploring the tragic events Vasiliev is analyzing them through the prism of publications in the Soviet press.

ART EXHIBITION AND A POLITICS by E.V.Suponina, PhD (Philosophy)

Keywords: Kuwait, Hermitage, cultural exchange

In the framework of cultural exchange between Kuwait and the USSR on the eve of the Iraqi aggression in 1990 the most valuable exhibits collections of the National Museum of Kuwait are exhibited in Hermitage. These pieces of art have been collected by members of the country ruling dynasty Nasser Al-Sabah and his wife Hissa Al-Sabah. Since the Kuwaiti exhibition in Leningrad has been opened only a few days after the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait it was interpreted as an act of solidarity. The art exhibition successfully organized by the Al-Sabah couple in 2009 in Moscow and St. Petersburg has become a logical continuation of the cooperation in the sphere of arts which began at a difficult time for Kuwait

KUWAIT PROSE by V.E. Chagall, Dr. Sc. (Philology), E.V.Kukhareva. PhD (Philology)
Keywords: Kuwait, literature
The prose of small forms of the Persian Gulf countries has never been a simple adaptation of the European models, which is characteristic feature of the literature of many Arab countries. It is rather a pure Arabian phenomenon.
This is a story of development of modern Kuwait prose from the publication of the first story in 1929 to the present time as well as the story of unique contribution of women writers to the development of a national prose.

“IN LOVE WITH THE WALLS”, “CANDLES OF THE CAVE”, “THIRST OF ABU SAKHIR” by Suraya al-Baksami, (Kuwait)
Three stories by Surayo all Bucks from his book «Spark of Dungeon» has been published for the first time in Russian. Translated by E.V Kukhareva, PhD (Philology)

“FOR SALE”, “DEPARTURE”. EXCERPT FROM THE NOVEL “THE RETURN OF VASMIL” by Laila al-Othman (Kuwait)

TWO STORIES BY LAILA AL-OTHMAN from her novel «The Return Vasmil» has been published for the first time in Russian translated by V.E. Chagall, PhD, (Philology) and an excerpt from her novel “The Return of Vasmil” in translation of E.V. Kukhareva, PhD (Philology)

 

 Culture, Literature, Art

JAPANESE WRITERS OF THE XX C. ABOUT THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION OF SAKHALIN by E.A.Ikonnikova (Yuzhno- Sakhalinsk), Dr.Sc. (Philology)
Keywords: Sakhalin, indigenous peoples, Japanese literature
In modern Japanese literature there is obvious interest in the indigenous population of the Far East. The proximity of Sakhalin to Japan, polemics on issues of ethnogenesis of Sakhalin minority peoples, especially their cultural traditions and crafts have greatly contributed to the growth of visits of Japanese writers to the island in order the study of these ethnic groups.
The author analyzes the work of a number of Japanese writers who are paying particular attention in their fiction literature to the problems of Sakhalin.

 

 Travelings, Meetings, Impresions

«THE IRON ISLAND» TAKEN BY MISTAKE FOR ARCHIPELAGO by V.F.Urlyapov, PhD (History)
Key words: Sulawesi, Indonesia
It is the story of a trip to South Sulawesi. The author adds interesting facts about the history of this Indonesia’s region, describes exotic traditions of native population of Tana Toraja (The Land of Toraja). A substantial amount of new information readers can obtain on local funeral ceremonies and a philosophy of bidding farewell to those who joined the silent majority.

 

 Book Review

ANOTHER YEAR OF «CHINA’S RISING INTERNATIONAL STATUS» by V.Y.Portyakov
In 2003 the Chinese political scientists have promoted the concept of «peaceful rise of China» has caused widespread interest in deeper analysis of the place and role of the country in the world politics and economy.
The author analyzes “The Annual Report of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences for 2009” on the international status of China.

 

Summary